In Cincinnati, John Fay notes the Reds' seven-player trade with the Dodgers in December "brought three impact players and a sense that the Reds were going for it" in '19, and the team has "seen the effect of the trade in season-ticket re-ups." Reds Senior VP/Business Operations Karen Forgus said, "We definitely have renewed interest. People that were on the fence have come over. A lot of people are buying four and six packs. Those sold in record numbers" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 1/18).
HOT SEAT OR COOL THRONE? In N.Y., Manish Mehta writes the "heat is on" for Jets GM Mike Maccagnan to prove that Chair & CEO Christopher Johnson "made the right decision to keep him around." Maccagnan has "shown promise in the past year or so with smart, aggressive moves that provide hope that he can improve," and he has the "capacity to evolve in the big chair." Johnson "wisely didn't put a playoff mandate" on the '19 season, but there "must be significant, tangible progress this upcoming season" under new coach Adam Gase (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/18).
POWER PLAY: The Oilers are currently outside of the playoffs, and THE ATHLETIC's Jonathan Willis wrote there is "one question" Oilers brass needs to answer about President of Hockey Operations & GM Peter Chiarelli: "is the GM right?" That question "should be resolved by the end of next week," when the team will take a 10-day break starting Jan. 22. That break is a "chance to evaluate everything, as well as set trade deadline strategy." Willis: "If Chiarelli is not going to be the Oilers general manager past this summer, he shouldn't be the one heading up hockey operations through this period. ... A caretaker GM can handle necessary immediate business with less likelihood of committing his successor to pricey long-term bets" (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/15).
