In Miami, Greg Cote writes the Marlins are "doing good things," as they "have made strategic moves this offseason." They finally "seem serious about heading in a direction" team President David Samson "describes with the words 'stability and sustainability.'" The Marlins this offseason "spent big to hire a proven winning manager in Don Mattingly." Adding Barry Bonds as hitting coach "has a major potential upside," as does the signing of P Wei-Yin Chen and an extension for 2B Dee Gordon. The Marlins at last "seem committed to a positive direction toward that long-elusive stability and sustainability" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/21).
YOU CAN CALL ME AL: In Detroit, Bob Wojnowski writes if there was any concern Tigers Exec VP/Baseball Operations & GM Al Aliva "could be the deal-maker" that former GM Dave Dombrowski was, there has been "no sign of a drop-off" this offseason. Before signing LF Justin Upton, Avila "already had added a top closer (Francisco Rodriguez), a top-line starting pitcher (Jordan Zimmermann) and several key pieces for the bullpen" (DETROIT NEWS, 1/21). Also in Detroit, Jeff Seidel writes Avila has taken Owner Mike Ilitch’s money and "transformed this team, plugging all kinds of holes." Avila was "able to do all of that without losing one of the team’s top prospects" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 1/21).
EVEN THE YANKS HAVE THEIR LIMITS: The Yankees have been uncharacteristically quiet on this winter’s free-agent market, not making any moves beyond a series of trades. However, Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner said that was driven by the lack of money coming off the payroll, and the club’s current '16 payroll obligation of at least $206M -- pending arbitration outcomes -- will not grow much more. "I’m not comfortable with payroll being too much higher than where it is now," Steinbrenner said. "I have said many times I should not have to be at $200 million in order to win a World Series" (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer).
RESPECT THY NEIGHBOR: In Chicago, Rick Morrissey writes the Cubs have "come across as greedy and pushy" by asking the city to "close Clark and Addison streets on game days because of heightened security concerns." Morrissey: "I was on the Cubs' side as they fought the rooftop owners, who were basically pirating someone else’s product." But now the Cubs "seem hell bent on alienating residents." They have "moved beyond trying to pretend that they want to be good neighbors to all-out not caring about them." The Cubs are "certainly not someone you’d want living down the street from you" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 1/21).
