The World Cup, which also must be approved by the Players Association and the International Baseball Federation, is not likely to start before 2006.
They will also approve a contract extension for Commissioner Bud Selig, who has been in charge of baseball since September 1992. He was acting commissioner for six years and was given a five-year term in July 1998. In 2001, owners extended his term through to 2006.
Among critical issues facing the MLB is the future of the Montreal Expos, which was acquired by the other owners who are now seeking a new location.
ESPN.com reports that Major League Baseball’s lawyers have been instructed to negotiate with four of the areas bidding for the Expos franchise in an attempt to get the best stadium deal.
Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, confirmed meetings will take place within 10 days. A colleague said the meeting will be set up with Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, Las Vegas and Norfolk, Virginia.
For the Expos, Washington and Northern Virginia remain the focus of most baseball owners, several of them have said in recent weeks. No consensus between the two has emerged, and baseball wants the communities to pay most of the costs of a new ballpark for the team, which was bought by the other 29 clubs before the 2002 season.
“There are varying studies that have been done,” DuPuy said. “Some of it is qualitative, some of it is quantitative, and everyone has their own view on that subject.”
While Monterrey, Mexico, and Portland, Ore., have not officially been eliminated, they currently are not the focus of the relocation committee.
“I don't think right now it's necessary that we meet with all six groups,” DuPuy said.
The bid by San Juan is not under active consideration. Baseball moved 22 Expos home games from Montreal to Puerto Rico in both 2003 and 2004 in an effort to increase revenue.
