MLB.com’s Bill Chastain reported Rays Exec VP/Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman “will remain” with the team after being “mentioned in rumors as one of the candidates for the Astros' general manager's vacancy.” Friedman has not spoken on the matter, but team President Matt Silverman in a statement released by the Rays last night said: “Andrew chose not to be a part of the Astros' process. It is in no way a reflection on the Houston organization" (MLB.com, 12/5). Meanwhile, in Houston, Zachary Levine noted the Astros “set off to work Monday to find" a GM, and they currently have “six unspecified candidates.” Sources said that the Astros’ have “three known interviewees, Rockies assistant GM Bill Geivett, Cardinals director of player procurement Jeff Luhnow and Royals assistant GM J.J. Piccolo.” Astros CEO George Postolos said, “If you want the best candidate, you’re going to go after people wherever they are and whatever situation they’re in. It’s usually the case that there may be some people who are a really good fit that you just can’t get to. Since we want the absolute best for the Houston Astros, that’s what we’re going to pursue” (CHRON.com, 12/6).
DIFFERENCE MAKER: MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds asked A's GM Billy Beane if a new stadium would "change it that much for you" revenue-wise. Reynolds: "Would it change your philosophy and really make that big of a difference?” Beane: “Yes. ... Ten years ago there was a lot of old stadiums, now there’s very few teams that don’t have new venues. … We will be the last team that shares a facility with an NFL team and it’s become a challenge luring players in, so it would make a big difference” ("Hot Stove," MLB Network, 12/5).
BEST AVAILABLE: In Pittsburgh, Bill Brink noted MLB’s new CBA “altered the way teams can spend money to sign draft picks.” Pirates GM Neal Huntington said, "The ability to outspend everybody in the draft is obviously altered. The process of going out and adding as much premium amateur talent as we possibly can, that focus doesn't change at all." He added, "We expect that we're going to take the best player available with every pick, no different than what we've done in the past." Huntington said that the Pirates “would have to consider spending above their assigned pool value on a case-by-case basis” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 12/6).
