A’s reach deal on Las Vegas site Alcaraz’s 12-match win streak abruptly ends
The Oakland Athletics cleared the first hurdle of their proposed move to Las Vegas on Monday, with the owners of the Tropicana Hotel land announcing they reached agreement with the team to reserve nine acres of that 35acre site for a ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip.
The deal is contingent on “the passing of legislation for public financing and related agreements,” and state legislators are expected to learn exactly how much taxpayer money the A’s seek as soon as next Monday. According to a statement announcing the agreement, the owners of the site would retain the ability to develop the rest of the site.
Two numbers jumped out from the statement: The ballpark would hold “approximately 30,000 fans” and is expected to attract “more than 2.5 million fans and visitors annually.”
In other words, the A’s are projecting sellouts for just about every game.
Of the 30 teams in the major leagues, only 11 announced an attendance of at least 2.5 million last season.
— Bill Shaikin
Reliever Ryan Brasier, a key part of Boston’s 2018 World Series championship bullpen, was designated for assignment . ... The Tampa Bay Rays reinstated closer Peter Fairbanks from the 15-day injured list and optioned righthander Chris Muller to triple-A Durham . ... The Colorado Rockies placed first baseman C.J. Cron on the 10-day IL because of back spasms . ... First baseman/outfielder Darin Ruf agreed to a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers two days after he elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to the minor leagues with the San Francisco Giants.