Twins Owner Carl Pohlad will continue to work on
finalizing a deal to sell the team to NC businessman Don
Beaver, according to Neal & Hartman of the Minneapolis STAR
TRIBUNE. Pohlad, Twins President Jerry Bell and financial
consultant Bob Starkey yesterday updated MLB's Executive
Committee on their progress. Interim MLB Commissioner Bud
Selig said that selling the Twins to a new local owner
"would be fruitless." Selig: "You change one face for
another, what does that do? That club can't survive there
without a new stadium. That's all there is to it. It can't
generate revenue to survive." Bell said the team "will not
wait" for the MN Legislature to come up with funding for a
new stadium. Pohlad and Beaver have until March 31 to
complete their sales agreement, but they "could opt to
extend the deadline" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/18).
STRANGE BREW: In addition to the Dodgers sale, the MLB
Executive Council tomorrow will vote on the sale of the Blue
Jays to Interbrew, according to Elliott & Zeisberger of the
TORONTO SUN. Although the Belgian brewer purchased the team
in '95, Interbrew never sought approval "because it intended
to be only an interim owner" (TORONTO SUN, 3/18).
LONE STAR: Bud Selig said the sale of the Rangers to
Tom Hicks "would not be discussed at this week's" meetings,
according to Ken Daley of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Selig
said that "approval is likely" at the next owners meetings,
June 9-11 in Seattle (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/18).
THE COMMISH: Rockies Owner Jerry McMorris said that
MLB's search for a permanent commissioner "will be completed
before June's owners meetings," according to Hal Bodley of
USA TODAY. McMorris said that "there's a group of about
five outstanding candidates -- more than five." Names of
potential candidates were not released (USA TODAY, 3/18).
Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner "is imploring" Selig "to
stop pretending." Steinbrenner: "I'm for getting Bud Selig
to accept the job as the chairman of baseball, with Paul
Beeston as the president and chief operating officer, and
letting it go like that" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/18).
