BASEBALL AMERICA's Ben Badler cited sources as saying that MLB is investigating the Red Sox over their '15 international signings, "focusing on whether the team signed multiple Venezuelan players in 'package deals' and whether that would be considered a circumvention of MLB's international bonus pools." The Red Sox last year were "extremely aggressive in Venezuela," with the majority of their top signings "coming from that country" (BASEBALLAMERICA.com, 5/11).
GAME OF THRONES: The NBA Kings on Tuesday formally introduced Dave Joerger as head coach, and in Sacramento, Jason Jones wrote the team hopes to "end their reputation as an unstable and dysfunctional franchise." Joerger was fired by the Grizzlies earlier this month in part because they "believed he was trying to interview for the Kings' job," though Kings VP/Basketball Operations & GM Vlade Divac denied this. Divac said that the Kings' "instability is over with the hiring of Joerger" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 5/11).
CULTURE CLUB: In Pittsburgh, Paul Zeise writes there are "many people who deserve credit for the Penguins' rise to the Eastern Conference final," but none more than GM Jim Rutherford and "not for the reasons that you think." It "became abundantly clear as time wore on" that former coach Mike Johnston "wasn't the right coach for this group of players." Rutherford "saw this, understood it, listened to his players and admitted he made a mistake," and 28 games into this season Rutherford fired Johnston. AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins coach Mike Sullivan was promoted to replace Johnston, and he "changed the culture in the locker room" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/12).
GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT: In Detroit, Josh Katzenstein notes enhancements from the Lions' business side will "help fan interest," as team President Rod Wood and his staff are "looking into upgrading Wi-Fi at Ford Field, improving traffic to and from games, and offering gathering areas within the stadium for fans who don't want to sit in their seat for three-plus hours." The Lions have not "made a decision on cheerleaders." But Wood said that he "wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't consider something many fans want" (DETROIT NEWS, 5/12).
