In N.Y., Andy Martino reports MLBPA Exex Dir Michael Weiner visited the Mets' Spring Training complex Thursday during his annual tour, and he "challenged the team to increase payroll." Weiner said, "A New York franchise in the National League is one of the flagship franchises in baseball. ... I trust that the Wilpons and Sandy Alderson, John Ricco, all those people will end up putting together a competitive team shortly." Martino notes the team's '13 payroll will be about $95M, and Mets officials "insist they are prepared to raise it in the near future" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/22). The N.Y. Daily News' T.J. Smith said of Weiner, "He’s trying to embarrass them into spending more money, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they are going to go out and break the bank to get players.” The N.Y. Daily News’ Bob Raissman: “Who’s he to tell them how to spend their money? All he’s trying to do is get his players more money” ("Daily News Live," SportsNet N.Y., 2/21).
MODEL FRANCHISE: MLB Network’s Peter Gammons said during the offseason, “at least a half-dozen times ... I had general managers or managers say they’re modeling themselves on the Rays." Gammons said to Rays Exec VP/Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and manager Joe Maddon, "It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it, what you two started in 2006 that you can be looking a few years later and won 90 games four out of five years.” Friedman said, “It’s going to be really neat one day to step back, but right now we’re so focused, have our foot on the pedal to try to continue it.” MLB Network's Greg Amsinger said there have to be “owners out there that watch” the Rays and the “dollars-per-win, if you go that way, it’s incredible." Amsinger: "They’re the best run organization right now based on wins” (“MLB Tonight,” MLB Network, 2/21).
