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Owners Delay Vote on Expos

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From Times Staff and Wire Reports

The Montreal Expos remain in limbo, already out of one home but not quite ready to move into a new one.

Instead of rubber-stamping the Expos’ proposed move to Washington D.C., as expected Thursday, Major League Baseball owners made the surprise decision to table the vote. Commissioner Bud Selig said the move would still take place, with a vote by owners coming by Dec. 6.

Season tickets went on sale Thursday, and the team announced that Manager Frank Robinson had agreed to a one-year contract extension through next season.

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A federal judge in Chicago refused to dismiss charges against a man accused of attempting to blackmail New York Yankee slugger Gary Sheffield and his wife with a purported sex videotape, and ordered him held in jail.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Morton Denlow brushed aside Derrick Mosley’s claim that he only wanted to provide moral counseling to Sheffield’s wife, gospel singer DeLeon Richards.

From Associated Press

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A baseball source confirmed that the New York Mets and the Angels discussed a possible deal involving Met catcher Mike Piazza at the general managers’ meetings.

The Mets inquired about Angel outfielder Jose Guillen, the source said, but the Angels are hesitant to take on the bulk of Piazza’s $15.5-million contract. Pitcher Ramon Ortiz, whose option year the Angels recently declined, also was discussed.

For any deal to be consummated, the Mets would have to agree to pay a large portion of Piazza’s salary. The Angels could use Piazza primarily as a designated hitter and backup catcher. The Mets might be interested in Guillen as a replacement for outfielder Cliff Floyd, whom the team reportedly also has discussed in trade talks with the Chicago Cubs for Sammy Sosa.

-- Mike DiGiovanna

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Jered Weaver said he remained confident that he would sign with the Angels even though more than five months have passed since the organization made the right-hander out of Long Beach State its top pick in the amateur draft.

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“I’m not really worried about it,” Weaver, the 12th overall selection, said this week. “It’s going to get done, it’s just a matter of time.”

Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman would not comment specifically on negotiations with Scott Boras, Weaver’s agent, saying the Angels would “move ahead and do what we have to do to get our club ready” for 2005. Boras could not be reached for comment.

Weaver is believed to be seeking a package similar to the $10.5-million deal Chicago Cub pitcher Mark Prior received out of USC. Prior won 18 games in 2003, his first full season with the Cubs.

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The Angels added the contracts of right-handed pitchers Ervin Santana and Steven Shell, left-hander Joe Saunders, catcher Jeff Mathis and infielder Alberto Callaspo to their 40-man roster.

-- Ben Bolch

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