The Phillies will "apply financial resources" to areas other than team payroll this offseason, including ballpark upgrades, a sports science staff and "boosts to their analytics department," according to Matt Breen of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. There will be a "new playing surface" and PA system at Citizens Bank Park next season. Phillies President Andy MacPhail said he expects the team to have a "relatively low payroll." The Phillies added $63.7M last winter in trades and free-agent signings, and a "similar figure can be expected this year." Breen noted the club's only contract for '18 belongs to CF Odubel Herrera, who will make just $3M (PHILLY.com, 10/3). MacPhail said, "Our major-league analytics group is going to continue to grow. We've gone from one (person) to 14. ... It is amazing to me what information can be generated now with the push of a button that I used to slave over for hours. It's incredible. They do the coding in that room and come up with stuff -- some of which is proprietary and some of it is not -- that to me is pretty remarkable. As we go along, we start to figure out things that say 'Gee, wouldn't it be nice to have that?' All of it emanates from one thing, it emanates from ownership. They have come to us with one thing: seek competitive advantages." MacPhail noted the club also will "add new lighting" at the ballpark as well as "different security enhancements" (NBCSPORTSPHILADELPHIA.com, 10/3).
