GaryMrMets
10-31-2003, 02:41 AM
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jsp?ymd=20031030&content_id=597121&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
10/30/2003 10:33 PM ET
Deal close on Expos schedule
Team could play games in Monterrey or San Juan
By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com
PANAMA CITY, Panama -- The Montreal Expos players are close to coming to an agreement that would move about a quarter of their home schedule again next season to either San Juan, Puerto Rico, or Monterrey, Mexico.
Monterrey, always considered a dark horse, has re-emerged as a possibility again after Major League Baseball officials decided to re-evaluate the Mexican offer.
Tony Bernazard, an official with the MLB Players Association here for the Americas Baseball Qualifying Event, said negotiations with the Expos players are still ongoing.
"It's getting closer, but it's not done," Bernazard said.
In September, the Expos voted to reject the split home schedule for the 2004 season. After playing 22 games in San Juan's Hiram Bithorn Stadium this past season, the Expos determined that having 103 of 162 games away from Montreal was one of the main reasons why they faded in the National League's Wild Card race.
San Juan subsequently agreed to a 2004 schedule that would include all the games in Puerto Rico played during the first half of the season, said Antonio Munoz Sr., whose company promoted the games this year in San Juan.
Munoz said that a $2 million to $3 million reconfiguration of 18,000-seat Hiram Bithorn Stadium had already begun in anticipation of the Expos' return next season.
The renovations include moving the fences and bleachers back 20 to 25 feet, the addition of new seats, refurbished clubhouses and a new artificial turf surface.
About $3 million of renovations are also promised on Estadio Monterrey if the Expos play their games there next season.
The union had a conference call with the Expos players during the World Series to gauge whether their mood had changed. Don Fehr, the union's executive director, said after the conference call that there was movement among the players toward accepting a split home schedule.
Gene Orza, an associate counsel for the players association who was on the call, told the Associated Press Thursday that the deal was almost complete.
"We've nailed down virtually everything," Orza said.
The Expos apparently want a guarantee that a certain amount of payroll is spent on players next season and that this is the last year they have to deal with a temporary solution to their economic problems in Montreal.
The Expos' payroll of about $50 million was close to that of the Florida Marlins, who beat the New York Yankees in the World Series. In that regard, the Expos have made an offer to right fielder Vladimir Guerrero, who can take advantage of his status as a potential free agent and sign elsewhere.
MLB's relocation committee has promised to resume its search for a permanent Expos' home by 2005 this offseason. Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia and Portland, Ore., have made bids for the team, but none of those communities have concluded site selection and financing for a new ballpark -- MLB's top criteria.
The committee is now open to new offers from different communities.
Barry M. Bloom is a national reporter for MLB.com. The Associated Press contributed to this story, which was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
10/30/2003 10:33 PM ET
Deal close on Expos schedule
Team could play games in Monterrey or San Juan
By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com
PANAMA CITY, Panama -- The Montreal Expos players are close to coming to an agreement that would move about a quarter of their home schedule again next season to either San Juan, Puerto Rico, or Monterrey, Mexico.
Monterrey, always considered a dark horse, has re-emerged as a possibility again after Major League Baseball officials decided to re-evaluate the Mexican offer.
Tony Bernazard, an official with the MLB Players Association here for the Americas Baseball Qualifying Event, said negotiations with the Expos players are still ongoing.
"It's getting closer, but it's not done," Bernazard said.
In September, the Expos voted to reject the split home schedule for the 2004 season. After playing 22 games in San Juan's Hiram Bithorn Stadium this past season, the Expos determined that having 103 of 162 games away from Montreal was one of the main reasons why they faded in the National League's Wild Card race.
San Juan subsequently agreed to a 2004 schedule that would include all the games in Puerto Rico played during the first half of the season, said Antonio Munoz Sr., whose company promoted the games this year in San Juan.
Munoz said that a $2 million to $3 million reconfiguration of 18,000-seat Hiram Bithorn Stadium had already begun in anticipation of the Expos' return next season.
The renovations include moving the fences and bleachers back 20 to 25 feet, the addition of new seats, refurbished clubhouses and a new artificial turf surface.
About $3 million of renovations are also promised on Estadio Monterrey if the Expos play their games there next season.
The union had a conference call with the Expos players during the World Series to gauge whether their mood had changed. Don Fehr, the union's executive director, said after the conference call that there was movement among the players toward accepting a split home schedule.
Gene Orza, an associate counsel for the players association who was on the call, told the Associated Press Thursday that the deal was almost complete.
"We've nailed down virtually everything," Orza said.
The Expos apparently want a guarantee that a certain amount of payroll is spent on players next season and that this is the last year they have to deal with a temporary solution to their economic problems in Montreal.
The Expos' payroll of about $50 million was close to that of the Florida Marlins, who beat the New York Yankees in the World Series. In that regard, the Expos have made an offer to right fielder Vladimir Guerrero, who can take advantage of his status as a potential free agent and sign elsewhere.
MLB's relocation committee has promised to resume its search for a permanent Expos' home by 2005 this offseason. Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia and Portland, Ore., have made bids for the team, but none of those communities have concluded site selection and financing for a new ballpark -- MLB's top criteria.
The committee is now open to new offers from different communities.
Barry M. Bloom is a national reporter for MLB.com. The Associated Press contributed to this story, which was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.