The Astros "could increase player payroll" by another $20M this winter, "roughly parallel to the team's jump" from '13 to '14, according to Evan Drellich of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Astros Owner Jim Crane said, "I think somewhere around that. We're not going to spend it to spend it. We're going to try to spend it effectively, and if we need to stretch a little, we'll stretch a little. If there's not a good reason to do that, we won't do that. But you know we'll continue to move it up." The Astros' payroll for next season will "ultimately depend on the eventual resolution of the team's television situation" with CSN Houston in which U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur is expected to make his ruling this week. Crane: "It's pretty simple. A couple years ago, we only got paid half of our rights fees. This year, we didn't get paid anything, and this year hopefully we go back and get something paid for our coverage. It'll have a big impact on what we'll be able to spend on the team" (CHRON.com, 10/7).
BUDGET RESTRAINTS: In California, Jeff Fletcher writes under the header, "Financial Restraints Limit Angels' Options." For '15, the Angels are "already close" to the $189M threshold for the luxury tax, which is 17% of the amount of the overage the first year and "includes bonuses, pre-arbitration players and benefits" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 10/7).
FATHER OF MINE: In San Diego, Jeff Sanders cites sources as saying that in addition to having just $41M on the books for '15, the Padres have room for the franchise-record $90M '14 Opening Day payroll to "grow in the coming years" (UTSANDIEGO.com, 10/3).
