A’s Reportedly Considering Fremont If Oakland Talks Stall

A’s Heading To Fremont?

With the A’s seeking a new ballpark in Oakland, A’s Owner Lew Wolff is considering a move to Fremont, California, “because the Oakland deal is going nowhere,” according to Mark Purdy of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. If the A’s move to Fremont, which is roughly halfway between Oakland and San Jose, the team “will be known as the San Jose A’s,” even though the Giants’ territorial rights prevent the A’s from moving to Santa Clara or San Jose. Wolff: “It’s pretty much what I’ve said all along, which is that by the beginning of the new season, if we don’t have a solid path to a particular venue in the city of Oakland, we’re going to look elsewhere. ... Fremont hasn’t been hidden. There may be some opportunities there.” Wolff, on a potential name change: “We’ve been the Oakland A’s for a long time. I would consider that aspect something way down the road. ... Obviously, if we moved in that direction, we’re moving closer to the San Jose market. It’s not an illogical thought. But I’m following the rules of baseball.” Purdy noted Giants Managing General Partner Peter Magowan said in ’00, “If the A’s want to go to Fremont, we won’t have a problem at all” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 3/12).

PLANNING AHEAD? The A’s last week sent an e-mail outlining ticket packages for this season to members of Baseball San Jose, a group formed to help attract an MLB franchise to the city (THE DAILY).