FOX SPORTS ARIZONA's Jack Magruder reported the D-Backs "are positioned to spend about" $91M on payroll this season. That figure "would be the third-highest" in team history, yet still "among the lower third" in MLB. D-Backs GM Dave Stewart said that the team is "unlikely to shed salary" even after "losing money last season." The team at some point "will need to make room" for the $16M outlay in P Yoan Lopez' deal -- his $8.25M signing bonus plus an $8M tax to MLB for "over-spending their international bonus pool" (FOXSPORTSARIZONA.com, 1/28).
ANNIVERSARY PARTY: In DC, Dan Steinberg reported the Nationals next week will begin unveiling plans "to celebrate the franchise’s 10th anniversary." The team is "going about its promotional schedule release in a non-traditional manner, with a '10 Days of Teddy' campaign." Beginning next week, the Nats' Twitter feed "will post a clue about the location of its Teddy Roosevelt mascot," and the first person to locate the mascot hat will find a box with a baseball that lists "one of the 10th anniversary items." Whoever finds the box and "tweets a photo of its contents will get the ball, a voucher for that item, and two tickets to the game at which it will be distributed" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 1/28).
HOW TO CATCH A FISH: MLB.com's Joe Frisaro noted the Marlins "went the extra mile to make a strong first impression on their latest acquisition, with five team executives traveling 18 hours by plane to Japan to properly welcome" OF Ichiro Suzuki. He becomes "the first Japanese-born player in franchise history" after signing a one-year, $2M contract on Tuesday. Marlins President David Samson said, "Baseball is so important in Japan, and it's so important to the worldwide growth and international growth of baseball. To not come here, and to not give this the proper import that it truly deserves wouldn't have been smart" (MLB.com, 1/28).
DEFENDING THE DEN: In Chicago, Christopher Placek reported Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts on Tuesday "defended plans" to complete the Wrigley Field renovations "over a five-year span during off-seasons, instead of getting the work done sooner at a cheaper cost -- which would have required the Cubs to find a temporary home in the meantime." Ricketts also said that he and other team officials "are in discussions about ways to honor" late Baseball HOFer Ernie Banks this season (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 1/28).
FOUNDING FATHERS: In San Diego, Dennis Lin notes the Padres this season will "wear home brown-pinstripe uniforms" for five Wednesday day games. The uniforms were previously worn by the team from '85-90. The Padres' "Way Back Wednesdays" also will feature "in-game music, graphics and other entertainment elements in a nod to an era well before Petco Park" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/29).
