D.C. Stays In Running For Expos Franchise

Baseball Adjusts To Financing Stance

Major League Baseball is still strongly considering awarding a team to Washington, despite the tougher stance taken by D.C. officials on stadium financing, according to baseball sources.

Baseball officials acknowledge that their strategy for relocating the ailing Montreal Expos was altered last week when Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) and D.C. Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) refused to push a $339 million ballpark financing package until Major League Baseball commits to moving the team to Washington.

But a source close to the relocation process said that although the city's new position presented "a host of problems," they were not fatal to efforts to return baseball to the District for the first time in three decades.

"It's problematic," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "It would be difficult for Major League Baseball to consider that kind of deal, but at this point, I wouldn't rule anything out."

Another baseball official close to the process went further, predicting: "Eventually I think the Expos will be in Washington, but not necessarily next season."

This official, who also spoke on the condition that he not be identified, emphasized that other scenarios remain possible, including moving the Expos to Northern Virginia or Portland, Ore., the two other competing jurisdictions, or eventually shutting down the franchise.

Northern Virginia has asked baseball for a "conditional award" before seeking additional financing from the Virginia legislature. Like the District's stance, the Northern Virginia position presents problems but is not a deal breaker, baseball sources said.

In January 2002, baseball commissioner Bud Selig called the Washington area "the prime candidate" for relocation, and baseball officials have never retreated from that position.

But the refusal by Williams and Evans to address the ballpark financing package without a commitment from baseball is significant because baseball officials have been adamant that they will not consider a permanent home for the Expos without public money in place to build a new stadium.

Major League Baseball, which took over the Expos last year, wants the public to put up most of the money for the new stadium so that a prospective owner would have more money to pay for the team.

The latest comments come as the long-running drama has reached a critical stage.

During private meetings with D.C. and Northern Virginia officials June 20, members of baseball's relocation committee reaffirmed their goal to make a recommendation to Selig by the July 15 All-Star game in Chicago, according to several participants.

Pressure appears to be mounting for baseball to make its decision this season, rather than deferring the move for a year or longer.

Gabe Paul Jr., executive director of the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority, said failing to decide this year would be "very unfair" to fans and "potentially disastrous for baseball."