Praise continues to roll in for the Padres following their signing of P James Shields to a four-year deal. USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale writes by acquiring Shields, the Padres, in their “wildest and most fascinating offseason” in team history, have “morphed from a dull, pedestrian franchise into one of the most intriguing” (USA TODAY, 2/10). GRANTLAND’s Ben Lindbergh wrote if ever a team “could derive a disproportionate benefit from winning a winter,” it would be the Padres, who have “spent the last several years speaking in whispers, losing attendance, and tiptoeing around the edge of the talent pool where teams are periodically expected to splash” (GRANTLAND.com, 2/9). MLB.com’s Corey Brock: "They have pulled off a stunner this year in the sense that they have become relevant again across the landscape of baseball" ("MLB Tonight," MLB Network, 2/9).
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS: In Ft. Worth, Randy Galloway wrote the Rangers' offseason has been a "contradiction of sorts when it comes to ownership commitment" to the '15 season. The money "dried up when it came to improving the club," and after a 95-loss season, improvement was "obviously needed in all areas." But before anyone "starts screaming 'cheap owners,' the flip side tells a somewhat different story." The payroll will be around $135M, which "should rank in the MLB top 10." Meanwhile, season-ticket sales for '15 have "taken a big dip," as the Rangers "figure to be down" 4,000-4,500 full-season tickets "from a top of 20,000-plus last season" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 2/8).
TOO CLOSE FOR MONFORT: In Colorado Springs, Paul Klee wrote while the Rockies' changes this offseason included hiring GM Jeff Bridich, it is "way too early to say if the most important change will take place." That is if Owner Dick Monfort is "going to step away" and let the "baseball people do baseball things." If Monfort "skedaddles and allows Bridich to do his job, perhaps the Rockies will show enough progress in 2015 to believe more changes are coming" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 2/9).
NOTES: Giants GM Brian Sabean on Friday said that the team has "entered into a lease agreement with a private air carrier that is retrofitting a Boeing 757 with 90 first-class seats, providing players more space than their previous travel on charters through Delta and United." Sabean declined to name the company (AP, 2/6)....Mets fans are "buying into the team's potential to be better" in '15. The team has "sold more full season tickets than they did last season." Overall ticket sales "are up nearly" 20% and group and individual sales are "ahead of last year's pace" (Bergen RECORD, 2/8).
