BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Owners Don’t Have Clear Plan

Exactly one year after the World Series was canceled for the first time since 1904, baseball owners emerged from three days of meetings in Detroit with no clear ideas on how to get a labor deal before the 1996 season is threatened.

Acting Commissioner Bud Selig and negotiating committee chairman John Harrington both expressed optimism but couldn’t point to any event that would push players and owners toward a new collective bargaining agreement. They’ve been without one since 1993.

“I can’t imagine us getting to December without a deal,� said Harrington, the chief executive officer of the Boston Red Sox.

In other matters, owners unanimously approved the $85-million sale of the Oakland Athletics from the Haas family to a group headed by developers Steve Schott and Ken Hofmann.

Selig said he hopes the Pirates will remain in Pittsburgh but refused to rule out a move. Newspaper heir Kevin McClatchy, who would keep the team in Pittsburgh, has negotiating rights through Sept. 22.