I don't know about the lining the coffers idea but it's pretty much an irrefutable fact that they have pulled back payroll they can afford to provide, but choose not to for now. A media member following this team absolutely should include statements like that in a discussion of the circumstances surrounding the team. I guess that depends on how you look at things. If payroll was reduced to privately fund renovations, does that count as money they can afford to provide to payroll but aren't? I suppose, technically, yes, but if they truly need to do that to do what needs to be done, then I understand doing it. But other than the infrastructure, none of the renovations are necessary. They're designed to make more money for a club with the 3rd highest revenue in baseball.