Rays/MLB

AL notes

By TIMES WIRES
Published April 27, 2006

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota House gave the Twins stadium hopes a big lift Wednesday, voting 76-55 in favor of an open-air ballpark that would be funded mostly by taxpayers.

The focus now shifts to the state Senate, where the proposed increase in the county's sales tax could run into some trouble.

The downtown Minneapolis stadium project would cost $522-million - three-fourths from a higher Hennepin County sales tax - and would allow the Twins to leave the Metrodome, their home since 1982 and the place where they've clinched two World Series crowns.

"We're overwhelmed by it," Jerry Bell, president of Twins Sports, Inc., said of the vote. "It was more votes than we expected."

Twins owner Carl Pohlad would be required to put $130-million into the project up front before the stadium opens and annual payments for upkeep. They expect the building to generate $40-million a year for the franchise.

Lefty C.C. Sabathia will make a rehab start today for Triple-A Buffalo, and if all goes well, he'll return and either start against Chicago or Oakland next week.

Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey cleared waivers and was sent outright Wednesday back to Triple-A Oklahoma.

The World Series champions claimed pitcher Eduardo Sierra off waivers from the Rockies and optioned him to Double-A Birmingham of the Southern League.

The New York City Council approved payment plans for both the Yankees' and Mets' new ballparks.

The Yankees ballpark, planned to open in 2009 next to its current home, is expected to cost more than $1-billion, with the city and state providing more than $200-million. The Mets stadium, to be built on what is now part of the parking lot of Shea Stadium, is predicted to cost about $800-million, of which the city and state will contribute about $165-million.

[Last modified April 27, 2006, 02:59:12]