Probably for as long as you can remember, you've heard about the Oakland A's attempting to relocate to San Jose, or the more Southerly Bay at the very least. Unfortunately, for slightly longer than you can remember, the Giants have laid territorial claim that general area. Major League Baseball has supposedly had a committee looking into the feasibility of such a move by the A's for years, but it's always been far from the fast track. In the next few weeks, however, it's possible that all may change.
Bud Selig, perhaps in the throes of what he views as his retirement tour, has recently spoken with the A's brass about the move to San Jose, and according to Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports, Selig will sit down with Giants executives in two weeks. This may all lead to something, and it may all lead to nothing. But this is certainly the biggest step toward relocation that has been made in a very, very long time.
The A's have Cisco champing at the bit to build a new, state-of-the-art stadium in the company's back yard. MLB certainly wants the A's to make more money by moving, rather than less money by staying. The move would seem to fit in with Selig's legacy, which he has been fortifying lately by announcing the realignment of the Houston Astros to the American League West, and the addition of another wild card team in each league.
It will be interesting to see what the reaction is by the Giants. Will they be willing to allow the A's to break into their market? I can't imagine they'd suddenly be willing to change their position that they've held to for so long. I mean, the San Jose Giants play there! What would all those San Jose Giants fans do if the A's moved to the South Bay? They'd be so confused.
Fun fact: San Jose is six miles closer to Oakland than it is to San Francisco. Just sayin'.
To discuss this latest wrinkle in the Oakland A's relocation saga, please head over to Athletics Nation.