Antonetti said there is no specific payroll number the team is targeting next seasongetty images
In Akron, Ryan Lewis notes the Indians over the past few years "increased their payroll" above $140M for the first time in franchise history, but now there is "no doubt the franchise wants to become younger and shed some salary to reallocate it elsewhere." The team's '19 payroll "could fluctuate like a stack of chips at a blackjack table, depending on what cards the Indians might be dealt in an offer." Indians President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti said there is "no one specific number" the team is working toward. He said, "Ownership's invested incredible resources into our team over the course of the past few seasons to try to help push us to a World Series championship. At some point, you have to make sure you have sustainable finances that work for the long term" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 12/11).
REDS RISING: In Cincinnati, Bobby Nightengale wrote there is a "different vibe around the Reds" entering the MLB Winter Meetings, as the team has "money to spend and a clear need to acquire more pitching." The Reds have "serious interest in some of the top free agents and trade targets," and there is "urgency to improve for next season." Reds President of Baseball Operations Dick Williams said, "We have some financial resources. We have some prospect capital. We definitely are focused on improving this year -- on improving the club." Nightengale wrote fans should not "expect an all-in push" in '19, but there "appears to be a willingness to make bigger moves" (CINCINNATI.com, 12/10).
THROUGH THICK & THIN: Pirates Exec VP & GM Neal Huntington discussed he decision to decline the Giants' "invitation to vie for the top job in their baseball operations department." Huntington said, "To put (Pirates Chair) Bob Nutting in the situation I put Bob in last January, trading Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole, those were baseball decisions that 98 percent of our fanbase isn't going to believe were baseball decisions. There was a sense of commitment to this organization, to Bob, to [President] Frank [Coonelly], because of the damage that I did in making those decisions" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 12/11).
NO MORE EXCUSES: In S.F., Scott Ostler wrote MLB Giants co-Owner Charles Johnson is the "Knucklehead of the Week," as he has "donated to the campaigns of several political candidate who support seriously gay-unfriendly agendas, including the advocacy of conversion therapy." This comes after the controversy surrounding Johnson last month. Ostler: "Maybe it's time to stop accepting Charlie's charming 'Oops!' excuse. As it stands now, many a Giants fan will have to check his or her conscience at the turnstile, like an illegal-size purse" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/9).
