DON'T START BUYING ALL THAT DEVIL RAYS GARB, YET

     Devil Rays Managing Partner Vince Naimoli told the ST.
PETERSBURG TIMES that he would consider "trying to give back the
expansion franchise," purchase the Pirates, and move them to
Tampa Bay for the '96 season.  In DC, Thom Loverro notes that
Naimoli, who would pay around $85M for the Pirates, would not
only save the $130M expansion fee, but also $50M in other startup
costs (WASHINGTON TIMES, 9/19).  Naimoli: "I'm 100 percent behind
keeping it in the area it's in.  But if some terrible event
happen ... and the team has no option but to move ... I would
hope we get the first option."  Naimoli, who said he would only
act with the permission of MLB owners:  "At the end of the day, I
really do believe the team will stay in Pittsburgh."  MLB acting
Commissioner Bud Selig would not comment on any aspect of a
Pirates move.  In Tampa, Bill Chastain:  "Nice thought, but it's
not going to happen" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 9/19).  Officials from
Virginia Baseball "were startled by Naimoli's statements" and had
no comment (WASHINGTON TIMES, 9/19).