Move Marlins? Selig dismisses the possibility

Sun-Sentinel

Move Marlins? Selig dismisses the possibility

By Mike Berardino

Staff writer

Posted July 14 2004

HOUSTON ? With a half dozen cities lining up to provide a permanent home for the vagabond Montreal Expos, Major League Baseball suddenly has a working list for possible franchise relocation.

However, Commissioner Bud Selig downplayed that possibility Tuesday, at least as it relates to clubs beyond the Expos and particularly the Marlins.

"Nobody's asked [about relocation]," Selig told a meeting of the Baseball Writers Association of America. "Nobody's even hinted at that."

It was suggested by an out-of-state reporter that the Marlins could be a potential relocation candidate, especially with their ballpark project in limbo.

"Obviously, Florida has an intense desire to stay there," Selig said. "South Florida, in the right circumstances, is a great market. I haven't talked to [Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria] lately. They're still optimistic, but they've got work to do."

Selig also said he had no idea when a ruling might come down in the arbitration hearing between Loria and his limited partners. Nor, Selig said, is he worried the delay in the hearing -- which began in May -- could hamper either the Expos' sale or the Marlins' ballpark push.

"That's an internal ruling between Jeff and the partners," Selig said. "I'm not concerned about that."

According to Selig, contraction is "off the table," even after 2006, when the current labor agreement allows the elimination of two or more teams. The Expos and Minnesota Twins had been named as contraction targets in November 2001 but the idea was tabled when the union and local governments objected.

"The Minnesota club is still trying very hard to get a stadium built," Selig said. "And Florida, I must say in Jeff Loria's and [Marlins President] David Samson's case, they're trying everything."