The San Francisco Giants, which won their first US Major League Baseball (MLB) title in 56 years on Monday, said they were close to making a decision on a two-game series to open next year’s season in Taiwan and that it is very possible the team will come.
“We have to have this done in the next couple of weeks, that’s my understanding. We’re trying to work it out and I think it’s somewhat close to happening,” Giants president Larry Baers was quoted as saying on the Major League Baseball (MLB) Web site.
If the Giants agree to the deal, they will meet their National League West Division rival, the Arizona Diamondbacks, in March in a pair of season-opening games in Taiwan, the first time an MLB season will open in this country and the first time the league will have staged international openers in three years. The Boston Red Sox played the Oakland Athletics in Tokyo in 2008.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“We will be informed of the final decision by the MLB in the next week or so. We are optimistic,” said Hu Lung-chih, general manager of Bros Sports, organizer of the season openers, which will be counted as home games for the Diamondbacks.
One concern, voiced by some players, as well as the Players’ Association, is that such a trip would interfere with spring training.
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