NL Franchise Notes: Phillies Maintaining Sponsorship Deals

Phillies Officials Say Club Has Done Well Renewing Existing Sponsorship Deals

FINDING MIDDLE GROUND: In Pittsburgh, Rob Biertempfel reports the Pirates' Opening Day payroll is $48.693M, "essentially the same figure as a year ago" and the third-lowest total in MLB. Pirates President Frank Coonelly: "I can see a day when our payroll is far closer to the median (in the majors) than it is today. There is no reason we would have to stay at the bottom of the payroll list, as long as we're successful in turning this franchise around. But, my objective is not to have a payroll that's closer to the median. My objective is to have a winning ballclub" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 4/7). Meanwhile, Biertempfel wrote Pirates GM Neal Huntington "already has dramatically transformed the franchise ... in little more than one year." Pirates Owner Bob Nutting: "Neal is going to be measured on how the team performs. But right now, I'm very impressed with the steps we're making" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 4/5).

Padres' Season-Ticket Sales Down About 25% From Last Year

SLOWLY BUT SURELY: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Matthew Futterman reported prospective Cubs Owner Tom Ricketts is "having the corporate equivalent of an extended spring training," as the financing for his purchase of the team "hasn't been resolved -- and isn't expected to until mid-spring" due to the credit crisis (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/6).

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