The Indians' trade for Mets RF Jay Bruce on Wednesday added $3.7M to the team's payroll for the rest of this season, and manager Terry Francona said he hopes Indians Chair & CEO Paul Dolan is "getting a lot of credit" for green-lighting the move, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. Francona said of Dolan, "He's kind of taking a big bite right there and don't think we don't appreciate it. It's going to give us a better chance to win." Hoynes notes the Indians "opened this season with a franchise record" $124M payroll (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/11). The AP's Tom Withers noted Indians President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti also credited Dolan for "stepping up." Antonetti: "Ownership has been incredibly supportive in trying to put the best team possible on the field and gives us a chance to earn a postseason berth and advance to the World Series. This is just the most recent example of what's been a consistent track record for them in trying to do that, and providing us the necessary resources to try to make that happen" (AP, 8/9).
EXTENDING THE WORLD SERIES WINDOW: In Cleveland, Kevin Kleps noted the Dolan family is "being praised for their willingness to again take on salary during the Indians' extended championship window." The club's payroll was in the $50M range just six years ago, but the Dolans have "proven in the past that they'd spend when they thought the time was right." Kleps: "Coming off a World Series run and with a collection of solid-to-terrific players signed to reasonable, long-term contracts, there's no better period than the present" (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 8/10). THE ATHLETIC's T.J. Zuppe noted Bruce deal furthers the "death of a narrative perpetuated by years of frugal (and sometimes less than desired) spending by team ownership." The Dolans "promised to step up when the time was right." Zuppe: "With the club at least in position to make another run at a World Series appearance, ownership has done enough to warrant a second look from those that swore them off as cheap years ago" (THEATHLETIC.com, 8/10).
