.
Ryan Divish does a particularly good job on this 'Stove piece. As y'know, we live to serve. Exec Sum:
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(1) The new owners are sick of being laughingstocks and see little problem with raising the payroll by $10, $15MM for next year. Plenty of freedom to do what he wants ta do, sez Jedi.
It's a funny thing. In 2001-12 I talked about nothing else. But now that the owners are kewl, I barely mention 'em. That's on me. But! How sweeeeeeeeet a 'tis.
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(2) Hadn't realized that Mike Napoli comes without a draft pick. Say what? The Indians didn't want to give 1/$17M for a 30-100 man? Slap me silly and call me shirley. Or, call me Scott, if I was your manager in Texas.
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(3) Sez the Mariners "would prefer" to start the AA player of the year in Tacoma next year. Sounds to me like Tyler O'Neill is a Mariner if he's the best outfielder in camp. Which is hardly a longshot.
Or not,
Jeff