Major League Baseball is pressing forward with plans to move the Montreal Expos to Washington, according to sources with intimate knowledge of Thursday’s meeting of baseball’s executive committee.
Though Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos reiterated his opposition to the move, baseball has resolved to construct a financial package over the next few days in an attempt to compensate him.
With baseball’s self-imposed deadline and the city’s legislative deadline coming late next week, officials on both sides were preparing for an announcement soon that the Expos, currently owned and operated by MLB, would begin play at RFK Stadium in April.
“I think we’re all running out of time, and we realize that,” said MLB President Bob DuPuy, speaking generally about the relocation process at a news conference in which he revealed few specifics.
At Thursday’s meeting, held at the offices of Commissioner Bud Selig, Washington’s proposal was outlined by committee Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, according to the source, and drew admiration from committee members.
Reinsdorf, owner of the White Sox, worked with D.C. officials late into Wednesday night hammering out the details of a 30-page memorandum of understanding that would govern construction and operation of the new stadium.
The city’s stadium plan, which still must be approved by the city council, has moved it clearly ahead of Northern Virginia.
Mark Tuohey, chairman of the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission, said Thursday he expects to receive formal notification of a decision by early next week because baseball officials know “that we have a clock ticking.”
The end of next week marks an important deadline for both baseball and Washington. Baseball’s regular season ends Oct. 3, and Selig has a long-standing policy banning major announcements during the postseason, which could run until Oct. 31.
According to another source with knowledge of Thursday’s meeting, Angelos is expected to ask Selig for assurances that baseball would guarantee the same price for the Orioles if and when he decides to sell the franchise.
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However, DuPuy said there were no discussions at Thursday’s meeting regarding compensation for Angelos.