BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Proposal Outlined for Brewers’ Stadium

Wisconsin Gov. Tommy G. Thompson outlined a $250-million financing package Saturday for constructing a ballpark for the Milwaukee Brewers, who say they might leave town without a new stadium.

“Wisconsin can’t afford to lose its major league status,” Thompson said. “Having the team is important to the city. It’s important to our economy and most importantly, it’s important to the state.”

Thompson said he will call a special session of the Legislature in the first week of September to consider the financial arrangements.

Brewer President Bud Selig called the proposal “just the first step” in getting the ballpark operating by 1999. It would be built at the site of Milwaukee County Stadium, which would be razed.

*

Cincinnati right-hander Jose Rijo expects to have surgery Tuesday to rebuild his injured pitching elbow.

Rijo said Saturday that he called Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., and asked for an appointment to have calcification removed from a ligament in his right elbow. He’ll be examined Tuesday and could have surgery the same day.