In Pittsburgh, Kevin Gorman wrote the Pirates, who currently sit at 55-52 and four games out of the second Wild Card spot, “need to make a move” before tomorrow’s trade deadline. They “owe it to the fans who have expressed their displeasure with the Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole trades but have come back to the ballpark.” The Pirates “drew a season-best crowd of 35,900 to PNC Park on Saturday night -- the day of the Steelers’ first practice in full pads -- and a season-best weekend attendance of 86,005” (TRIBLIVE.com, 7/29). Also in Pittsburgh, Ron Cook writes under the header, "Time For Neal Huntington To Put Action Behind His Words." Cook: "Every team ahead of the Pirates in the division standings and the wild-card race have made additions. Huntington is conspicuous by doing nothing" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 7/30).
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE: The GLOBE & MAIL's Cathal Kelly noted the Blue Jays are "run more like a [Canadian] political party in power than a baseball franchise," meaning team execs believe they have a "few years after the election before anyone begins to think seriously" about being replaced. Credit for that likely goes to two Americans -- Blue Jays President & CEO Mark Shapiro and Exec VP/Baseball Operations & GM Ross Atkins -- for "mastering local customs so adeptly" (THEGLOBEANDMAIL.com, 7/27).
PAY TO PLAY: In Boston, Evan Drellich cited sources as saying that the Red Sox as presently constituted "would finish above baseball’s highest luxury tax threshold” of $237M, in ’18. The team will pay a 62.5% tax on any payroll above that figure. They also will see their top pick in the ‘19 MLB Draft “reduced 10 slots, from somewhere close to No. 30 to somewhere close to No. 40” (NBCSPORTSBOSTON.com, 7/29).
