Padres Make City a Ballpark Offer

The San Diego Padres have offered the city $100 million in private funds to help construct a new downtown ballpark, and a commitment to keep the team in town for 30 years.

The $100 million would include stadium naming rights, a source familiar with the negotiations said. A naming-rights deal could bring in $40 million to $50 million over 20 years.

The Padres also would assume all cost overruns on the ballpark construction, which is expected to cost approximately $270 million.

Negotiations are continuing, and under the proposed deal, the city is expected to pay the rest of the construction costs.

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The Cardinals’ Mark McGwire, who is trying to become the first player with 50 homers in three straight seasons, needs one homer to match the most by a St. Louis player since Stan Musial hit 36 in 1949. McGwire hit 58 homers last year, 24 with the Cardinals.

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A comment by Jim Thome of the Cleveland Indians on McGwire, who hit two home runs at Jacobs Field this week: “It’s like the Empire State Building standing there with a bat in his hands.”

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Reliever Jeff Nelson, who leads the New York Yankees with 36 appearances, was put on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Thursday because of back trouble.

The Yankees made the move before beginning their interleague series against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. Reliever Mike Buddie was recalled from triple-A Columbus.

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Detroit right-hander Brian Powell will make his major league debut with a start against the Reds tonight. The Tigers will call up Powell from triple-A Toledo to replace the injured Bryce Florie.