Washington Proposes Plan to Land the Expos

The District of Columbia proposed a $338-million package Thursday in an effort to persuade baseball owners to move the Montreal Expos to the nation’s capital.

The plan includes $275 million for a new ballpark and $15 million to renovate RFK Stadium, where the team would play until a new stadium is ready.

“We believe we’ll see far more revenue than necessary to weather any vagaries ... like an economic downturn or a baseball strike,� said Steve Green with the District of Columbia Office of Planning and Economic Development.

Washington, Northern Virginia and Portland, Ore., are seeking the Expos, who were bought by the other 29 teams before the 2002 season. Baseball officials have said they would like to make a decision by the All-Star break in mid-July.

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Kazuhiro Sasaki was activated from the 15-day disabled list by the Seattle Mariners, and Manager Bob Melvin said it’s likely the closer will be eased back to work in a non-save situation.

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Florida Marlin right-hander Josh Beckett’s arm ailment was diagnosed as an elbow sprain, and he’ll be allowed to resume throwing in a week.... Baltimore catcher Brook Fordyce went on bereavement leave after the death of his father. Catcher Robert Machado was brought up from triple-A Ottawa to take his roster spot.