The New York Yankees decided to pass...

The New York Yankees decided to pass on their 1998 contract option for Tim Raines, paying the outfielder a $200,000 buyout.

Raines, 38, made $1.8 million this season, $800,000 of which was deferred, and would have made the same next year.

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A group headed by businessman Frank Oddo dropped out of the race to buy the Kansas City Royals, leaving former player George Brett and businessman Jerry Green as the remaining leaders of groups publicly interested in buying the franchise.

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A legislative task force voted, 9-4, to pay for a retractable-roof ballpark for the Minnesota Twins using state lottery money and revenue from slot machines at a horse racing park.

The vote was the clearest legislative victory for the Twins since team officials began seeking a publicly subsidized stadium two years ago, but the plan has an uphill climb before the full legislature convenes for a special session on the issue later this month.