In Dallas, Evan Grant wondered “what will happen during the 2024 season” around the Rangers' TV future, especially since they are a defending World Series champion with the “highest payroll in club history” and are “bent on repeating.” This season the Rangers payroll went to $242M -- which means they will “be a first time payor” into the Competitive Balance Tax pool -- and the club does “not intend to break things down this offseason.” Grant wrote because of that, it “would kind of be nice to know” what the Rangers have coming in from TV revenue for 2024, for “planning and all that.” Grant: "Nevermind that the deal was originally supposed to run through 2034" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/14).
READING THE TEA LEAVES: In Chicago, Scot Gregor wrote there is a “growing sense around the game” that if the Cubs can afford to spend so much on a manager, “they're really going to go big on players.” Not only are the Cubs “expected to be back near the top of the payroll pile in 2024,” they “already flexed their spending muscles” by making Craig Counsell the highest-paid manager in MLB history with a five-year, $40M contract. The spending comes after scaling back from 2020-22 and focusing more on “building up a barren minor-league system” rather than “throwing money at free agents.” The Cubs increased their spending last season and ranked No. 12 at $120M. Gregor wrote it will be “interesting to see what players the Cubs go after this off-season.” But as for “spending massive money” on Counsell, Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer said that it was a “smart investment” (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 11/14).
NICE RECEPTION: In Boston, Doug Kyed noted that during the Patriots game this past weekend in Germany, the team “received loud cheers” during pre-game introductions. Kyed: “Not only did it feel like a home game for the Patriots, it was probably the team’s most supportive crowd all season.” Fans were “enthusiastic and appreciative” to watch their favorite team for the entire game, but crowd volume “understandably dwindled” as the two teams swapped 12 straight drives without scoring (BOSTON HERALD, 11/14).
