Menu
Franchises

MLB Franchise Notes: Tigers' Conservative Offseason Spending Continues

In Detroit, Tony Paul wrote signing P Joba Chamberlain was the "latest cost-conservative move for the typically free-spending Tigers, who mostly passed on the bigger names this offseason and signed second-tier guys." Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski "once again reiterated the team isn’t cutting payroll -- and he's right." The Tigers started '13 around $150M, among the highest in the game, and "will be slightly over that" for '14. But the Tigers "clearly are choosing not to spend all" of the $25M the team will receive in additional TV revenue. Given that the Tigers have "reportedly lost money almost every year Mike Ilitch has owned the team, it's certainly their prerogative if they want to keep some of the new cash" (DETROIT NEWS, 12/14).

ROYAL TREATMENT: In K.C., Sam Mellinger wrote Royals Owner David Glass is "operating the way a solid, standard, relatively small-money owner should operate in a baseball world." Glass "sent a subtle but important message" when he extended GM Dayton Moore's contact for just two years, and "he's sending another one now" with a four-year, $30M contract for 2B Omar Infante. The signing gives the team a "bump in payroll that should put the Royals" above $90M for the first time (K.C. STAR, 12/14).

OH, BROTHER: In Philadelphia, Matt Gelb wrote under the header, "Amaro Has Phils Stuck Between Rebuilding And Contending." The Phillies "will not spend their way" out of an aging roster, because it is "irresponsible spending that landed them here." Gone are the days of "fretting about the luxury tax," as the team will "spend well below" the $189M luxury tax threshold. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. "is right" in his belief that the Phillies "should be able to win with a payroll" of $165-170M. Gelb: "Just not with a team constructed like his" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 12/15).

KING OF QUEENS? In Newark, Barry Federovitch wrote the Mets gained "credibility, a trait sorely lacking in recent years" by signing CF Curtis Granderson and P Bartolo Colon. If it is "fair to criticize GM Sandy Alderson when he does nothing, you have to give him the lion's share of credit when he actually puts the team in the discussion for a National League wild-card berth, which is what he may have done." Still, the Mets are "only that, in the discussion, on the fringe of respectability, and it is from here that Alderson and the Mets will determine if that credibility is transitory or built upon" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 12/15).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2013/12/16/Franchises/MLB-Fran-Notes.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2013/12/16/Franchises/MLB-Fran-Notes.aspx

CLOSE