On Long Island, Tim Healey notes new Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen yesterday at the MLB GM Meetings in Carlsbad, Calif., "wasn’t interested in discussing" his team's '19 payroll even in general terms. Van Wagenen said, "I'll leave that to ownership to discuss that." The Mets’ payroll for next season is "already sizeable," somewhere in the $140M range. The Mets' Opening Day payrolls the past two seasons were $150.5M and $154.4M, respectively. It is "not clear how much flexibility Van Wagenen has to work with" (NEWSDAY, 11/7).
PATIENCE PAYS OFF: In Chicago, David Haugh wrote no sports exec in Chicago has "had a better" year than Bears GM Ryan Pace, who "completely resuscitated his career after the McCaskeys gave him a reprieve at the end of last season." Sticking with Pace offers a "solid argument for patience so hard to find in professional sports." To Pace’s credit, he has "taken advantage of his second chance to make a first impression by essentially hitting reset on his tenure as Bears GM" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/6).
TIME TO TRANSITION: In N.Y., Dave Caldwell noted Devils Exec VP/Business Development Martin Brodeur began working for the team in August as an "energetic, but untested, executive." His specific duties are "yet to be determined." For now, he "essentially shadows" Devils President Hugh Weber, "attending meetings and sitting in on conference calls, learning how every facet of the front office works." For example, he "spent a recent game night with the game-operations department, learning how the Devils try to use music, videos and contests to add more enjoyment to each game" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/6).
