M’S Owners Make Commitment To Keep Baseball Team In Seattle

Owners of the Seattle Mariners said Monday they will work with the city to resolve issues surrounding a new stadium for the team, and won’t put the club back up for sale.

City Council members, facing a deadline of today, had asked for more time to arrange a compromise plan for covering police, transportation and cleanup costs at the new stadium, which will be located south of the Kingdome.

“Discussions over the last week have led us and the city to a new level of mutual understanding about seeking ways to address our concerns,” Mariners chairman and chief executive officer John Ellis said in a statement.

“In light of the understanding with the city outlined above, and the positive actions of the (King) County Council and the Public Facilities District, we will notify Major League Baseball that the team is no longer for sale.”

On Dec. 14, frustrated by delays in moving the $414 million ballpark project forward, owners said they were withdrawing and putting the club up for sale. Six days later, they reversed course again and agreed to remain if certain conditions and deadlines were met.

Mariners sign Ayala, Sanders

Pitchers Bobby Ayala and Scott Sanders have reached agreement on one-year contracts with the Mariners. Salary figures were not released.

Ayala, 27, appeared in 50 games with the Mariners last season, and was 6-3 with three saves and a 5.88 ERA. Sanders, 27, was acquired last month from San Diego for left-hander Sterling Hitchcock. Sanders posted a 9-5 mark with a 3.38 ERA last season with the Padres. He appeared in 46 games, making 16 starts.

Expansion teams to be assigned

Baseball’s expansion teams will finally be assigned to leagues this week, and it appears Phoenix will wind up in the National League and Tampa Bay in the American.

When baseball owners approved the expansion on March 9, 1995, they set a deadline of January 1997 for the league assignments.

“My position has always been that in the best interests in baseball, we belong in the National League,” Diamondbacks CEO Jerry Colangelo said. “We’re in a market that’s been outspoken, where 65 percent of its fans are in the National League.”

The Devil Rays appear happy that they’re going to the A.L. and already are planning a celebration Friday.

Appointing a search committee for a permanent commissioner is the other big agenda item for this week’s owners’ meeting, which starts today at Scottsdale, Ariz.

Piazza, Dodgers still not close

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Mike Piazza said Monday he’s “not really that close right now” with the team in contract negotiations.

Piazza, 28, is eligible for arbitration, and can become a free agent in two years.

“I want to get something done that’s fair,” Piazza told reporters before seeing patients at Childrens Hospital in Los Angeles. “As a player, you have to be prepared for anything. We’re not really that close right now.”

Piazza wouldn’t comment on a published report that he wanted a five-year, $50 million contract, but did say, “I never said I wanted to be the highest paid player in baseball.”

GM, Schott working on settlement

If Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott sells her Chevrolet-Geo dealership, General Motors Corp. will drop its allegations that the dealership faked car sales, a GM lawyer said.

GM has accused Schott of faking car sales - including using names of executives running her baseball team - at her Chevrolet-Geo dealership.

Schott, who also owns a Buick dealership, already has agreed to sell the Chevrolet-Geo franchise.