Baseball in D.C.? It just might happen this time

WASHINGTON -- After decades of failed hopes and fruitless waiting, supporters of baseball in Washington are finally starting to believe it just might happen.

The two ownership groups trying to bring a team to the area brimmed with optimism Thursday after commissioner Bud Selig, speaking at the owners' meeting in Phoenix, said the nation's capital was a "prime candidate" for relocation. Selig's aides said no team would move until 2003 at the earliest.

"He gives us a little more light at the end of the tunnel," said Fred Malek, who heads a group that wants a team in downtown Washington. "We weren't expecting it. But it's clearly the most positive statement we've had from the commissioner on a public or private basis."

Washington has been without a team since 1971, when the expansion Senators became the Texas Rangers. Politicians, businessmen and fans have campaigned aggressively for baseball's return ever since, lobbying for expansion teams and courting financially struggling ones.

It came close to happening only once -- when the Houston Astros were set to move to the suburbs of Northern Virginia in 1996 if a stadium referendum failed. It passed 51 to 49 percent.

"We've always believed," said William Collins, who heads the Northern Virginia ownership group. "Major league baseball has always recognized the significance of this national capital area and the Northern Virginia marketplace."

The team most likely to relocate would be the Montreal Expos, who were last in the league in attendance last year.

Before it can happen, the issue of whether Malek's downtown group or Collins' suburban group would own the team has to be resolved. On Thursday, both seemed amenable to the idea of forming one group.

"We could we work together," Malek said. "Could we come together? The answer is absolutely yes."

Said Malek: "If we get a team in D.C, we would welcome Bill and his group to join us."

A relocated team would play at RFK Stadium -- the old home of the Senators -- for two or three seasons while a new stadium is built.

The move would also face opposition from Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos, who has said repeatedly that his team would suffer financially if a team were placed in Washington.

Anaheim gets Fullmer, 10 more in arbitration settle

Anaheim acquired Brad Fullmer from Toronto for pitcher Brian Cooper on Thursday, and nearly a dozen more players in salary arbitration settled their cases before exchanging figures with their teams.

Fullmer, traded on his 27th birthday, hit .274 with 18 homers and 83 RBIs last year and could become the Angels' designated hitter.

"This is becoming quite an event," Fullmer said of his birthday. "Last year I signed my first multiyear deal. This year I get traded and I'm coming back home. It's great."

Fullmer, from Chatsworth, Calif., batted .295 with 32 homers and 104 RBIs in 133 games for the Blue Jays in 2000.

"He's a guy who's been productive, is still young and improving," Anaheim general manager Bill Stoneman said.

Cooper, a 27-year-old right-hander, was 12-8 with a 4.63 ERA and one complete game in 28 starts for Triple-A Salt Lake and 0-1 with a 2.63 ERA in one start and six relief appearances for the Angels. In parts of three seasons with the Angels, he is 5-10 with a 5.33 ERA in 21 starts and six relief appearances.

Toronto settled with two players in arbitration, giving a $4.25 million, one-year deal with outfielder Shannon Stewart and a $2.3 million, one-year contract to right-hander Kelvim Escobar.

The Chicago White Sox also settled with two players, agreeing to a $6.9 million, two-year contract with outfielder Carlos Lee and a $1.4 million, one-year deal with outfielder Chris Singleton. The White Sox also claimed left-handed pitcher Thomas Jacquez off waivers from Philadelphia.

Milwaukee settled on one-year contract with three players, giving right-hander Jamey Wright $4.25 million, second baseman Rob Belliard $1.65 million and Valerio De Los Santos $300,000.

Oakland agreed to a $7.6 million, two-year contract with right-hander Cory Lidle, Colorado agreed to a $1,325,000, one-year contract with right-hander Jose Paniagua and the New York Yankees agreed to a $720,000, one-year contract with infielder Enrique Wilson.

Nineteen of the 93 players in arbitration already have settled. Those who don't settle Friday morning will exchange proposed salaries with their clubs on Friday afternoon.

For those still in arbitration early next week, hearings will be scheduled for Feb. 4-21.-- From wire services