Blue Jays President & CEO Paul Beeston yesterday during an hour-long interview on Toronto-based CJCL-AM "repeatedly insisted that he has the full backing of his bosses at Rogers Communications," according to John Lott of the NATIONAL POST. But Beeston did acknowledge that Rogers' "hunt for his replacement was a 'rocky' period for him." Beeston: "I don’t think anyone wants to see their career play out in the newspapers.” He added that he "never went to Rogers executives to confront them about the very public rumours" that they wanted to replace him. However, Beeston said that his "very close friend" White Sox Chair Jerry Reinsdorf told him Rogers had "called about interviewing" White Sox Exec VP Kenny Williams. Beeston: "When I heard about this, I heard about it from Jerry." Lott notes it has been "widely speculated that ownership was upset with Beeston for backing" Red Sox Chair Tom Werner instead of Rob Manfred in the "race to succeed" Bud Selig as MLB Commissioner. Beeston: “The fact that I backed the wrong horse doesn’t mean I was against Rob Manfred." Beeston said that Werner is an "old friend." He added that Manfred "will do a good job," and his "relationship with Manfred is solid." When asked whether the Blue Jays' payroll would be roughly equivalent to last year’s $137M (all figures U.S.), Beeston said it would be “a little bit higher.” He added that the Blue Jays "lost money last year but refused to give details" (NATIONAL POST, 2/4).
DOLLARS & SENSE: In Toronto, Richard Griffin writes an "educated projection" of the Blue Jays' payroll for '15 is approximately $123.3M. Last year’s payroll was $137.2M, "No. 9 overall" in MLB. The change in the U.S.-Canadian exchange rate "works out to about" a $22M increase on the team's current payroll, which "would, in effect, bump the current cost" to $145.5M. The team is "spending enough to win," so there are "no excuses accepted there." While it is "doubtful the Jays can offer more than a one-year deal, they can still make additions" (TORONTO STAR, 2/4).
