In Boston, John Tomase wrote the "mere existence" of the opening at the top of the Red Sox' baseball operations since Dave Dombrowski's firing over a month ago has "contributed to a run on contract extensions in front offices across" MLB. Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and D-backs Exec VP & GM Mike Hazen have signed new deals, while Twins Exec VP & Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey is "nearing an extension." Any one of them "could've been a compelling candidate in Boston." The Red Sox' pool "may have narrowed, but their general options remain the same: familiarity or change" (NBCSPORTSBOSTON.com, 10/16).
NEW CAPTAIN COMING? Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said that he "would help" Pirates Chair Bob Nutting "find investors if he was interested in selling the team." Peduto, during a Reddit AMA yesterday, was asked if he could "somehow help to wrest control of the Pirates away" from Nutting. Peduto responded: "He would have to want to sell the team. Forbes has listed the value at $1.2B. If he would be interested in selling, I would work to find the investors to meet his required amount" (DKPITTSBURGHSPORTS.com, 10/16).
SPECIAL SERVICES: In DC, Justin George noted with the Nationals headed to the World Series next week, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will "continue operating on a special baseball playoff schedule, running trains late if games go past Metro's normal service hours." The transit agency will keep the system "running for as long as an hour afterward to get fans home" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/16).
