Phoenix may be "losing its grip on spring-training even as the Cactus League looks to attract more teams" to Arizona from Florida's Grapefruit League, according to Peter Corbett of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Phoenix Deputy Parks Dir Rob Harman said that the city has been "working hard to try to keep" the Brewers in Phoenix' Maryvale Baseball Park and the A's at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, but both teams "are considering other options for when their leases expire" in '12 and '14, respectively. The city and the A's "did not extend their contract agreement this past spring despite public announcements in April that the deal was imminent." Brewers and A's officials "refuse to discuss their Cactus League plans." Mesa's Hohokam Stadium, currently the Cubs' preseason home, is the "most immediate option for the A's, Brewers or a possible team" from the Grapefruit League. Hohokam "could be available as early as 2014, when the Cubs are scheduled to move to a new stadium." There has been "speculation about five Florida teams showing interest in the Cactus League," including the Astros, Twins, Nationals, Blue Jays and Cardinals. But former Cactus League Association President Robert Brinton said that "nothing definite is in the works." In addition, leases are "in place until 2016 for the Astros, 2017 for the Nationals, Blue Jays and Cardinals, and 2020 for the Twins." Corbett notes building "any more new spring-training stadiums in the Valley will be a difficult challenge," as the Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority is "tapped out for new stadium funding" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 9/27).
