Mcclatchy: Bucs Couldn’t Move

Pittsburgh Pirates buyer Kevin McClatchy said he couldn’t move the team to his native California even if he wished because major league baseball wouldn’t approve the shift.

McClatchy, who may be approved as the Pirates owner as early as next week, was reacting to speculation by U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and City Council president Jim Ferlo that he could move the team to his native Sacramento.

Donald Fehr, major-league baseball players’ labor leader, said Wednesday’s 90-minute session was another in a series of small meetings he has had with Randy Levine, the owners’ chief labor executive. Levine called it a “good meeting” in which “we hit a bunch of central issues.”

They didn’t provide further details, but the union apparently is moving closer to responding to the new proposal the owners made on Nov. 15. The response is expected to come later this month.

The Expos traded infielder Wil Cordero to the Red Sox for left-hander Rheal Cormier. Boston also acquired right-hander Brian Eversgerd, who has a 4.67 ERA in 65 major-league appearances, while sending minor-leaguers Shayne Bennett and Ryan McGuire to Montreal.

First baseman Brian Hunter and the Reds agreed to a $700,000, one-year contract. Hunter took a $40,000 pay cut from his base salary last year, but he will be able to earn $100,000 in performance bonuses.