Owners say Twins, Expos only targets for contraction

NEW YORK -- With contraction all but dead for this winter, baseball management told the players' association that Montreal and Minnesota were the only teams under consideration for elimination before opening day.

Owners voted on Nov. 6 to eliminate two teams but did not identify them, and contraction has been on hold since Nov. 16, when a Minnesota judge issued an injunction that forces the Twins to honor their 2002 lease at the Metrodome.

Management negotiators Rob Manfred and Paul Beeston told the players' association last week that if owners succeeded in their plan to eliminate teams for this season, the Twins and Expos were the only candidates, two people familiar with the talks said Monday on the condition of anonymity.

Commissioner Bud Selig has refused to rule out folding franchises for the 2002 season and maintains that no teams officially have been picked for folding.

Manfred and union head Donald Fehr refused comment. Selig and Beeston did not return telephone calls seeking comment.

Lawyers for the Twins and Selig have asked the Minnesota Supreme Court to lift the injunction, but the high court won't decide until Friday at the earliest whether it will take the case. Even if the Supreme Court takes the case, it's unlikely to issue a decision on the injunction before Feb. 14, the first day teams can start spring training workouts.

Selig has maintained that contraction is theoretically possible any time before the major league season opener, when Cleveland plays at Anaheim on March 31.

Expos release schedule

The Expos became the last team to release their schedule, and said Monday they will install a new playing surface at Olympic Stadium before the April 2 opener against Florida.

"We are confident that baseball will be back in Montreal in 2002 and I just want to express my sincere appreciation for our fans' patience and support during what has been a very trying offseason," Expos executive vice president David Samson said.

Montreal faces a staff turnover in the next few weeks. Expos owner Jeffrey Loria is negotiating a $158 million purchase of the Marlins from John Henry, who heads a group that already has been given approval to buy the Boston Red Sox for $660 million.

Once he reaches an agreement to buy the Marlins, Loria is expected to sell the Expos' franchise back to the other 29 teams for $120 million.

Loria is expected to take many top Expos' officials with him to Florida.

Williams still in hospital

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Ted Williams remained in serious condition Monday at Shands Hospital, where the Hall of Famer was admitted last week.

Williams, 83, was admitted to Shands on Thursday with flu-like symptoms, including high temperature and below-normal blood pressure.

At his family's request, no further information regarding his care was being released, the statement from the University of Florida hospital said. Williams' condition was unchanged from Friday.

Phillies sign Mabry

PHILADELPHIA-- Outfielder John Mabry and the Philadelphia Phillies reached agreement on a Triple-A contract Monday with an invitation to spring training.

"John's an experienced role player who can play a number of positions," Phillies general manager Ed Wade said. "He's got some power and his versatility is an asset. We'll put him in the mix to compete for one of our bench jobs in spring training."

Mabry, 31, began last season with St. Louis but appeared in only five games before being traded to Florida. He hit a combined .208 with six home runs and 20 RBIs in limited play.

A career .271 hitter with 55 home runs, Mabry was originally selected by the Cardinals in the sixth round of the June 1991 draft.

-- From wire reports