Far East Coast Bias? Yankees, Red Sox Eyed For Games In Asia

Red Sox, Yankees Could Play Games In Asia Next Year

MLB is in preliminary talks with several teams, including the Yankees and Red Sox, about “playing exhibition games in China next March and opening the regular season in Japan,” according to Michael Schmidt of the N.Y. TIMES. While other teams are involved, including the Padres and Dodgers, MLB “would prefer the Yankees and the Red Sox.” Because home games in the series “are so valuable,” MLB would “have to sufficiently compensate each team for money lost on attendance and concessions.” The Yankees played a two-game series against the D’Rays in Japan in ’04 (N.Y. TIMES, 5/5). Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino said, “MLB has asked us to consider games in Asia in ’08, which we will do. The exploration is in its earliest stages” (BOSTON HERALD, 5/6). In Boston, Gordon Edes reported Red Sox Chair Tom Werner called the reports “premature.” However, Lucchino “is planning to make a trip to the Far East with [MLB] officials later this month” (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/6).