Japan Players Likely to Strike

The first strike in the history of Japanese baseball appeared likely Thursday after representatives of the country’s pro baseball teams ruled out a key demand by players.

Japan’s players threatened to strike this weekend unless a one-year freeze was placed on the merger of the Pacific League’s Kintetsu Buffaloes and Orix BlueWave.

But team officials told the Japanese Baseball Players’ Assn. that a freeze on the merger was impossible.

With the merger of the Buffaloes and the BlueWave, the Pacific League was reduced from six teams to five, which could result in 100 or more players and team personnel losing their jobs. There are six teams in the Central League.

“Now it’s just a question of whether the players can accept that,” said Players’ Assn. chief Atsuya Furuta.

Talks are expected to continue today, the deadline set by the players to avoid a strike.

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Todd Zeile, who intends to retire at the end of the season, will start at catcher for the first time in 14 years tonight when the New York Mets visit the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Zeile, 39, has not caught since 1990 with St. Louis -- his second year in the majors. Tom Glavine will be the Mets’ starting pitcher, and Zeile has been working with the left-hander.

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Toronto right-hander Roy Halladay threw 45 pitches in a simulated game and is expected to start Tuesday at Yankee Stadium in New York. Halladay, last season’s American League Cy Young Award winner, has been on the disabled list since July 20 because of a strained muscle in his right shoulder.

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The San Diego Padres quickly found a replacement for injured shortstop Khalil Greene, acquiring Alex Gonzalez from the Montreal Expos late Thursday for a player to be named or cash.

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Boston Red Sox officials said they hoped to add up to 2,000 seats to Fenway Park after next season in a proposal that will be unveiled over the next few months. Built in 1912, Fenway is the oldest and smallest park in the major leagues, with a capacity of 36,298.