Watch CBS News

Major League Baseball May Soon Rule On A's Move To San Jose

SAN JOSE (KCBS) – San Jose officials are encouraged over a number of recent reports that suggest that Major League Baseball is finally ready to rule on the Oakland A's possible move to the South Bay.

While it's still just in the rumor stage, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed said that news that a decision could come in January is the best he's heard in over two years.

He said that the fact that Major League Baseball has asked that the ballpark capacity be raised from 32,000 to 36,000 seats could be an important sign.

KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:

"We've done two Environmental Impact Reports and the most recent was for a stadium with 36,000 seats," Reed said. "So it can be upped to 36,000 as the land capacity can hold that. Exactly what Lew Wolff might negotiate with Major League Baseball is really between them."

Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone, a longtime local baseball booster, said he always believed that the A's would someday end up in San Jose.

"I've never wavered in 25 years. I've been trying to bring baseball to Santa Clara County since I was Mayor of Sunnyvale in 1988," Stone said. "I've been unsuccessful up until now and hopefully, this is a good sign of success."

However, the San Francisco Giants are reminding everyone that they have no interest in giving up their territorial rights to the South Bay.

But Stone said that there is precedence to rescinding territorial rights by Major League Baseball, as was the case when the Montreal Expos moved to Washington D.C., which had been considered Baltimore Oriole's territory.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.