Bidding for Cubs moves to round 2; Yankees discuss Bonds

From wire reports

July 25, 2008

Tribune Co. is inviting at least three potential buyers who each submitted bids for the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field near or above $1 billion to participate in a second round of proposals, a person involved in the process told the Associated Press.

Several bidders offering between $700 million and $900 million for all the properties have been excluded from the second round, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of nondisclosure agreements governing all talk about the bids.

A Tribune spokeswoman said the baseball team would not have any comment on the status of the sale, which also includes the team's minority stake in a Chicago regional sports TV network.

Included in the second round are Internet billionaire and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban; the Ricketts family, which founded the brokerage that is now TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.; and a group led by Sports Acquisition Holding Corp. that includes former home run king Hank Aaron and ex-Republican congressman Jack Kemp. The last group is believed to be teaming with another bidder who submitted an offer in the initial round.

Tribune, which ownsThe Sun, paid $20.5million for the team in 1981. It is seeking to sell the team and its stadium to help pay off the $8.2 billion cost of going private last year.

•More Cubs All-Star closer Kerry Wood was placed on the disabled list for the 12th time in his 10-year career because of a blister on his pitching hand.

•Yankees Barry Bonds in pinstripes? If nothing else, New York officials talked about it during a three-hour meeting at the spring training complex yesterday in Tampa, Fla. Missing injured sluggers Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada, the Yankees are considering ways to improve the team before Thursday's nonwaiver trade deadline. Afterward, co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner wouldn't say whether the Yankees are interested in Bonds, but it appears unlikely the team will pursue him - partly because it's so late in the season. The slugger, who turned 44 yesterday, became a free agent when the Giants did not bring him back this season.

• Mets Pitcher Pedro Martinez headed home to the Dominican Republic after the death of his father. Pablo Jaime died Wednesday at age 79 after battling brain cancer for more than a year. Martinez had been scheduled to pitch tonight against St. Louis. Mike Pelfrey will start instead.

• Red Sox With slugger David Ortiz apparently ready to come off the DL, Boston optioned outfielder Brandon Moss to Triple-A Pawtucket. Ortiz has been sidelined since May 30 with a wrist injury.