In N.Y., Joel Sherman notes Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner yesterday "remained calm in listing facts that dispute" claims that the club has turned cheap. There is "the payroll and the money spent internationally," and there is the $100M-plus "spent on free agency this offseason, fifth most of any team." There is the "largest check any team must write annually for revenue sharing," and there also is the "debt that must be paid on a stadium, the construction of which ownership funded." The first word out of Steinbrenner's mouth when asked if ownership has turned cheap was "wow.” Steinbrenner: "Having the payroll right now about as high as it has ever been, it is not my preference, but I certainly was willing to do it to put together a championship-caliber team" (N.Y. POST, 2/26).
DIFFERENT, BUT THE SAME: In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy notes Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino in '14 "mocked the Yankees for their free-spending ways." But in the last six months, the Red Sox "have committed" $318M to four position players. Lucchino yesterday said, "We are different. We run our franchises differently. There is a commonality in our willingness to invest sizable sums in baseball players. ... In that sense, like the Dodgers and Giants and successful clubs, we are willing to pay the price and write the check." He added, “There’s a question of pattern and consistency over time. That’s one way to distinguish us" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/26).
X MARKS THE SPOT: In Pittsburgh, Bill Brink notes the Pirates "will open the season with a record payroll" of more than $90M. But Owner Bob Nutting indicated that the team "will have the resources to add salary at the trade deadline if necessary." Nutting: “Having that opportunity and flexibility to react, I think, has been a core to our success and something we’re going to stick with" (POST-GAZETTE.com, 2/25).
