In Seattle, Ryan Divish noted the Mariners' ending payroll for the '16 season was just under $150M, the "highest in franchise history and 13th-highest" in MLB. Mariners Chair & CEO John Stanton "won't give an exact number," but the team's payroll is "unlikely to go down." A group led by Stanton bought a majority stake in the club in April. Stanton "knows that payroll won't necessarily guarantee success, particularly with a thin free-agent market." But he also "knows talent ... comes with cost." Stanton said, "The goal is to win a World Series here" (SEATTLE TIMES, 11/5).
INVEST WISELY: Twins officials said that the team plans to "grow the baseball operations department, add more decision-makers and specialize more roles." In Minneapolis, La Velle Neal III noted Twins Owner Jim Pohlad is "ready to invest in strengthening the infrastructure and moving the organization in line with what many other organizations are doing." The statistical analysis department "definitely will expand" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/6).
SILVER ANNIVERSARY: In Baltimore, Jon Meoli noted the Orioles on Friday "unveiled the logo that will be used next year to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Camden Yards." The team will "wear the diamond patch on its jersey sleeve and have it imprinted on all of their baseballs at the ballpark." The logo "features a silver '25' over a brick background, a nod to the warehouse that towers over the field in right field, with an orange trim" (Baltimore SUN, 11/5).
