SAN JUAN - The promoter who brought the Montreal Expos to Puerto Rico is talking with major league baseball to have other reams play on the island next season.
Antonio Munoz said Thursday the Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Devil Rays are two candidates to play next year in San Juan's Hiram Bithorn Stadium. The Pittsburgh Pirates have also been mentioned by baseball officials as a possible team.
"We've been in communication with the teams' owners to look at the economic side," Munoz said. "It has to be done before January 15. At least that's the date I've set to make this decision."
Munoz's company, MB Sports, paid $6.6 million in 2003 and $10 million in 2004 to bring 22 Expos' "home" games a year to San Juan. Average attendance dropped from 14,000 in 2003 to 10,000 in 2004.
The Expos had been slated to move from Montreal to Washington in 2005 and be renamed the Nationals, but that is on hold following a decision by the District of Columbia Council not to honor the September stadium agreement signed by the Expos and Washington Mayor Anthony A. Williams.
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