Green Light for Padre Ballpark

Eighteen months after construction was halted on a downtown ballpark for the Padres, work will resume Monday, a group of San Diego and team officials announced Saturday.

“The legal war is over and we’ve won,” said City Atty. Casey Gwinn in a reference to 16 lawsuits filed to block construction of the planned 42,500-seat ballpark.

The park, modeled after Baltimore’s Camden Yards, is set to be finished by opening day 2004. When voters in 1998 approved the project, it was set to open in the middle of the 2002 season.

A judge on Jan. 20 tossed out the final lawsuit attempting to force another public vote. While two of the lawsuits are still on appeal, that was not seen as a block to selling $169 million in bonds.

Merrill Lynch, the bond underwriter, reported to San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy on Friday that the bonds had been sold at an interest rate of 8.53%.

Construction was halted in October 2000 after the city decided not to provide any additional funds until the lawsuits were thwarted and the bonds sold.

Tony Perry

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At least 60 Florida Marlin employees were fired as Jeffrey Loria closed on his purchase of the team from John Henry.

The entire player development staff was fired, including scouts, administrators and minor league managers and coaches. The dismissals had been expected. Loria intended to bring along dozens of employees with him from the Montreal Expos.

Loria is keeping most of the Marlins’ business employees. Also staying are Andre Dawson and Tony Perez, special assistants to the general manager.

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Philadelphia Phillie third baseman Scott Rolen arrived at spring training at Clearwater, Fla., with his explanation for rejecting a $140-million, 10-year contract extension and criticism of team president.

“Philadelphia is the sixth-largest market in the game, and I feel that for the last however long, the organization has not acted like it,” Rolen said. “There’s a lack of commitment to what I think is right. I’m not seeing that their No. 1 goal is to put a winning team on the field.”

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Kevin Tapani retired after 13 years in the major leagues. Tapani, who was 9-14 with a 4.49 earned-run average last season with the Chicago Cubs, said he rejected an offer from Arizona.... The Kansas City Royals defeated shortstop Neifi Perez in salary arbitration. Perez was given a raise from $3.55 million to $4.1 million. Perez had asked for $5 million.... In Tampa, Fla., Yankee starter David Wells reported no problems after throwing off a mound for the first time since July.