In Miami, David Neal notes while the Marlins are listening to trade offers for RF Giancarlo Stanton, they are also "trying to pimp Stanton’s autograph" for '18 season tickets -- when he "likely won’t be" on the team. Stanton last week was named NL MVP, and an e-mail yesterday to potential season-ticket buyers said, “To celebrate the first MVP award in Marlins team history, the next 27 fans to purchase season tickets for 2018 will receive a signed Giancarlo baseball” (MIAMI HERALD, 11/21).
JOB SECURITY? In DC, Chelsea Janes writes the "soon-to-be free agent with the most potential to change the course" of the Nationals' future is probably President of Baseball Operations & GM Mike Rizzo, whose contract "will expire next Oct. 31 if Nationals ownership does not extend it before then." Both sides say that they "have not discussed an extension yet." Asked whether he will initiate talks about a future deal, Rizzo said, “I will not. I will allow them to talk to me if they choose to.” Janes notes Rizzo has "never said anything publicly about feeling restricted by the Lerner family in his team-building pursuits, but many of his colleagues within the organization have lamented the challenges he faces" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/21).
ADJUSTABLE BUDGET: In Minneapolis, Phil Miller notes the Twins "have more payroll flexibility than almost any team in baseball." Though they have nearly $70M committed to six players for '18, they are "on the hook at the moment" for less than $25M in '19, and "virtually nothing" in '20. They "plan to spread their payroll -- which figures to rise, if not sharply," from the '17 season’s $104M starting figure, "depending upon their luck in signing free agents -- among some of their current minimum-salary players" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/21).
SHOW ME THE MONEY: In Boston, Nick Cafardo examines the economics around MLB coaching staffs, and notes hitting coaches are "making more" in some cases "than bench coaches." A source said that the top five bench coaches "receive anywhere from $300,000-$500,000 per year, while pitching and hitting coaches in demand can be in the $400,000-$600,000 range." Base coaches are "usually in the $200,000-$300,000 range on the higher end, while the bullpen coach is normally the lowest paid, in the $175,000-$200,000 range" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/19).
