Committee Deals With Twin Move

The Minnesota Twins moved a step closer to North Carolina when baseball appointed a five-man committee to guide the team through the sport’s relocation rules.

“Carl Pohlad has tried everything to stay in Minnesota,” acting Commissioner Bud Selig said in Phoenix, where the expansion draft took place. “It’s very frustrating.”

The Minnesota Legislature last week defeated a proposal to finance a new ballpark, and Pohlad has an agreement with North Carolina businessman Don Beaver to negotiate a sale unless stadium financing is approved by Nov. 30.

If he buys the Twins, Beaver has said would apply to move the team to North Carolina after the 1998 season.

“The deadline is a very real and significant one,” Selig said. “If there’s no new ballpark, baseball will not survive in Minneapolis.”

Selig will head the committee, which also includes AL President Gene Budig, NL President Len Coleman, New York Met President Fred Wilpon and Colorado Rocky chairman Jerry McMorris.

Minnesota’s ballpark and Pohlad’s desire to sell was discussed Monday night by baseball’s ruling executive council, but no action was taken.

*

Detroit first baseman Tony Clark, who hit 32 home runs and drove in 117 runs last season, agreed to a new contract that will keep him with the Tigers through the 2001 season. Terms of the deal were not released. . . . Doug Jones returned to the Milwaukee Brewers, agreeing to a $3-million, one-year contract. Jones, 40, was 6-6 with a 2.02 earned-run average last season, finishing third in the American league with 36 saves. . . . Second baseman Joey Cora, who became a free agent after the World Series, returned to the Seattle Mariners, agreeing to a $1.65-million, one-year contract. Cora, 32, enjoyed the best offensive season of his 10-year career while playing with the Mariners in 1997. He hit .300 with 11 homers and 54 RBIs and was selected to play in his first All-Star Game. . . . Catcher Jeff Reed decided to return to the Rockies, agreeing to a $2.6-million, two-year contract.