Senate committee to review TV deal

Major League Baseball’s $700-million contract with DirecTV Group Inc. will be reviewed by the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee in two weeks over concerns that it may limit consumer access to hundreds of games.

The panel will meet March 27 to review the seven-year deal announced last week that puts baseball’s “Extra Innings” package of out-of-town games on the largest U.S. satellite television service, said Vincent Morris, a spokesman for Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who will chair the hearing. “The fear is the deal is going to rob consumers of choice,” Morris said.

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The New York Mets released right-hander Alay Soler, who defected from Cuba in 2003 and signed a three-year contract for $2.8 million with the Mets in 2004. Soler was competing for the fifth spot in the Mets’ rotation, but was unimpressive.

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Pitcher Jim Parque was reassigned to the minor leagues by Seattle. Parque is trying to make it back to the majors for the first time since shoulder trouble forced him out in 2003.