Baseball To Send Delegation To China

By Associated Press | May 17, 2007

Baseball will send a high-level delegation to China this month to inspect stadiums ahead of a possible trip there for exhibition games next year.

Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, will head the group, which also will include San Diego Padres chief executive officer Sandy Alderson, Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino and Pittsburgh Pirates CEO Kevin McClatchy.

"It's the proverbial fact-finding trip," Lucchino said. "The Red Sox are in favor of international play and have been for a long time."

Baseball has discussed the possibility of playing exhibition games in China next March. DuPuy said it also is possible those games could be tied to opening the regular season in Tokyo.

A ballpark is being built in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics.

"We don't know the status of the field at this point," DuPuy said.

In addition to Beijing, the delegation will travel to Shanghai. DuPuy said a decision would have to be made before the 2008 schedule is firmed up — while management must give it to the players' association by July 1, the union in the past has granted delays.

Also making the trip will be baseball executive vice presidents Tim Brosnan and Jimmie Lee Solomon, and senior vice president Paul Archey. DuPuy said the group will head to China on May 29.