A’s running out of time to find home
LAS VEGAS — The Oakland Athletics have spent years trying to get a new stadium while watching Bay Area neighbors the Giants, Warriors, 49ers and Raiders successfully move into state-of-the-art venues, and now time is running short on their efforts.
The A’s lease at Ringcentral Coliseum expires after the 2024 season, and though they might be forced to extend the terms, the club and Major League Baseball have deemed the stadium unsuitable for a professional franchise.
They are searching for a new stadium in Oakland or Las Vegas, but they have experienced difficulties in both areas. The A’s missed a major deadline in October to get a deal done in Oakland, and there has been little indication they will receive the kind of funding they want from Las Vegas.
“I think the A’s have to look at it in a couple of ways,” said Brendan Bussmann, director of government affairs for Las Vegasbased Global Market Advisors. “Obviously, they have struggled in Oakland to get a deal across the line. It isn’t for a lack of effort. … You have an owner that’s willing to pony up money, you have a club that wants to sit there and figure out a way to make it work, and you keep running into obstacles along the way.
“It’s time to fish or cut bait. Oakland, do you want them or not? And if not, where are the A’s going to get the best deal? Is it Vegas? Is it somewhere else? They’ll have to figure that out.”
The A’s have been negotiating with Oakland to build a $1 billion stadium as part of a $12 billion redevelopment deal.
Orioles: Baltimore acquired left-hander Cole Irvin from Oakland along with minor league right-hander Kyle Virbitsky for minor league infielder Darell Hernaiz. The 28-year-old Irvin went 9-13 with a career-best 3.98 ERA over 30 starts for the lastplace A’s, who lost 102 games in manager Mark Kotsay’s first season. Hernaiz is a shortstop prospect who reached Double-a last season . ... Right-hander Austin Voth avoided a salary arbitration hearing with Baltimore, agreeing to a $1.85 million, oneyear contract. Voth’s deal includes a $2.45 million team option for 2024 that can escalate by up to $500,000 based on starts this year: $100,000 for 12 and each additional three through 24. His 2023 salary is at the midpoint between the $2 million he had asked for and the $1.7 million offered by the Orioles when proposed arbitration salaries were exchanged on Jan. 13.
Astros: Dana Brown was hired Thursday as the general manager of Houston. Brown replaces James Click, who was not given a new contract and parted ways with the Astros just days after they won the World Series.
Brown spent the past four seasons as the vice president of scouting for the Atlanta Braves.
World Baseball Classic:
Japan completed naming its 30-man roster for the World Baseball Classic, which includes outfielders Lars Nootbaar of the St. Louis Cardinals and Masataka Yoshida of the Boston Red Sox. Japan announced its first 12 members last month. They include MLB players such as Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani, San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish, and Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki . ... Cubans signed with Major League Baseball organizations and other foreign clubs will for the first time join domestic stars on the national team that will play in the World Baseball Classic. The team will include third baseman Yoán Moncada and center fielder Luis Robert of the Chicago White Sox plus three players from Triple-a rosters: infielder Andy Ibáñez of the Tigers' Toldeo Mud Hens, right-hander Miguel Romero of the Athletics' Las Vegas Aviators and right-hander Ronald Bolaños of the Royals' Omaha Storm Chasers. Also on the team will be former New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Céspedes.