From Joe: I’ve always said that if the United States ever makes Puerto Rico a state, you can bet your ass that someone will attempt to put a franchise in Puerto Rico. It may even happen if PR doesn’t become a state. Either Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, etc… On the flip side, with the general income in these areas not being the same, it’d be interesting to see if the economics that are needed to support a MLB team can exist in other countries.
NEW YORK — Baseball is looking to expand to another international frontier this year: Puerto Rico.
A three-game series between the Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers in May might be moved to San Juan, according to officials in the commissioner’s office.
No final decision has been made, the officials said, adding there is a 50-50 chance the series will be moved. It currently is scheduled for May 10-12 at Comiskey Park in Chicago.
For the first time, baseball is opening the season outside the United States and Canada. The NL champion San Diego Padres moved their home opener on April 4 to Monterrey, Mexico, where the Padres met the New York Mets two years ago in the first regular-season games ever played outside the United States and Canada.
In addition, baseball is considering a proposal to have the Seattle Mariners open the 2000 season in Japan.
AL Most Valuable Player Juan Gonzalez and Ivan Rodriguez, among the top Puerto Ricans in the major leagues, make the Rangers the focal point for any games in Puerto Rico, the baseball officials said, speaking on the condition they not be identified.
However, Texas had the fourth-highest attendance average in the AL last year, 36,141, making the Rangers reluctant to give up any home games.
Chicago had the third-lowest attendance in the AL, averaging 17,609. As part of any agreement, the White Sox would be compensated for the lost home games, the officials said.
Sandy Alderson, the executive director of baseball operations in the commissioner’s officer, said there was a possibility of playing in Puerto Rico but declined to identify the teams involved. Others, however, confirmed the Rangers-White Sox series was the candidate.
“They haven’t contacted me at all,” White Sox general manager Ron Schueler said. “We haven’t heard anything.”
Rangers general manager Doug Melvin did not return a telephone call seeking comment.