Two professional sports projects in San Diego County are among the construction projects likely to be curtailed by Thursday’s court decision upholding the Legislature’s move to abolish local redevelopment agencies and shift the money to the state government.

Without redevelopment funding, a plan for a 9000-seat baseball stadium in Escondido to lure a minor league team appears doomed. City officials had tentatively earmarked $50 million in redevelopment funds to build a venue for a San Diego Padres farm team now playing in Tucson.

Padres principal owner Jeff Moorad purchased the Portland Beavers and moved the team to Tucson for the 2011 season, with the goal of moving the team to Escondido once a park was built. If the Escondido move is not possible, Moorad has said he will probably sell the Tucson Padres.

In San Diego, the court decision ends any thought of using redevelopment funds to build a downtown football stadium for the San Diego Chargers to replace Qualcomm Stadium and keep the team from moving somewhere, like Los Angeles.

Without redevelopment funds, the city would be more dependent on bond funding or have to design a project in which a stadium is only part of an entertainment complex. Mayor Jerry Sanders has promised to unveil a financing plan by the end of March, with a public vote to follow.

The Chargers have floated the idea of a project that includes an expansion of the waterfront convention center and a new stadium nearby — although that project has critics.

“We never believed redevelopment money would be available once the Legislature and governor acted last year,” said Chargers spokesman Mark Fabiani. “Even had the court today ruled the other way, we felt the governor and Legislature would just have found some other way to get at the money. Hence our combined stadium-convention center expansion idea.”

–Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo: Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Credit: Gregory Bull / Associated Press

 

Carlos Beltran and the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals
agreed to a two-year contract pending results of a physical, a move
that would fortify the team’s lineup following the departure of
Albert Pujols.

The team disclosed the agreement Thursday night and said it
expects to make a formal announcement shortly after the
holidays.

KMOX, the Cardinals’ flagship radio station, reported the deal
is for $26 million over two years _ the same figure cited by a
person familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated
Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because financial
details of the agreement were not announced by the team.

The 34-year-old Beltran batted .300 with 22 home runs, 84 RBIs
and a .385 on-base percentage for the New York Mets and San
Francisco Giants this year. He likely will be the opening-day right
fielder for the Cardinals next season. Lance Berkman is expected to
move to first base, taking Pujols’ spot.

Beltran and Berkman are switch-hitters, giving new manager Mike
Matheny lineup flexibility.

Earlier this month, St. Louis re-signed shortstop Rafael Furcal
to a two-year, $14 million contract and added left-handed reliever
J.C. Romero with a one-year, $750,000 deal. The Cardinals appear to
need only a few spare parts to finalize the roster.

After Pujols signed a $254 million, 10-year contract with the
Los Angeles Angels, Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said he
expected his team’s payroll to perhaps exceed this year’s total of
$110 million.

Allen Craig, coming off an impressive postseason, gives the
Cardinals another strong option in the outfield but will miss at
least the first month of the season while recovering from knee
surgery.

A six-time All-Star, Beltran began his career with the
cross-state Royals in 1998, three years after Kansas City drafted
him in the second round. The switch-hitter has a .283 career
batting average with 302 home runs and 1,146 RBIs.

“Beltran is a proven outfielder who obviously has been a tough
opponent against the Cardinals for many years,” St. Louis general
manager John Mozeliak said in a statement. “It is going to be nice
to have his bat and competitive nature working for us instead of on
the other side of the field for the next couple of years.”

Beltran faced the Cardinals in a pair of NL championship series,
in 2004 with Houston and 2006 with the Mets. St. Louis won both
series despite several big hits by Beltran.

With a chance to put the Mets in the World Series, however, he
struck out looking to end Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS against Cardinals
right-hander Adam Wainwright.

___

AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.

With the acquisition of pitcher Mat Latos from the San Diego Padres, the Cincinnati Reds have made it as clear as a crisp post-season October sky; they plan to compete in 2012.

The Reds began 2011 with a bang and fans were excited to enjoy a successful season. However the team faltered, in large part due to inconsistent starting pitchers, and the team eventually slipped slowly but surely out of contention. Granted the Reds are in a tough division as they battled regularly against the two teams that eventually made it to the National League Championship game in 2011 – the Milwaukee Brewers and St Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals, of course, went on to win the World Series.

However the days of Marge Schott are gone, and Reds management no longer favors players based on their lack of facial hair, nor do they rely on the fur from a dearly demised saint bernard for good luck. Reds general manager Walt Jocketty knows what needs require attention and controlling owner Bob Castellini is willing to do what it takes put together a winning team.

Mat Latos is a young, powerful addition to the Reds where they need it most – starting pitching. In 2011 Johnny Cueto (9-5, 2.31 ERA), Mike Leake (12-8, 3.86 ERA) and Homer Bailey (9-7, 4.43 ERA) were the only Reds starters with winning records. Veteran Bronson Arroyo was iffy at best, finishing the season at 9-12. Latos went 9-14 for the Padres in 2011 , but that was without the strength of a stellar offense he will have backing him up as he pitches for the Reds. Latos ERA was 3.47, and he held opponents to a batting average of .233; he is only 24 and the Reds clearly anticipate long term success from him.

In exchange for Latos, the Reds gave up pitcher Edinson Volquez who ended 2010 with a less than impressive record of 5-7 and 5.71 ERA. They also lost Yonder Alonso, who was ranked as the Reds number two prospect; yet Alonso was unable to reach his full potential at first base with Joey Votto firmly entrenched in the starting lineup. Other top prospects were included in the trade as well, but the Reds aren’t overly focused future potential, they are about winning in the here and now.

Walt Jocketty told reporters, “Our offseason objective was to try to upgrade our rotation and add a top-of-the-rotation starter.” Though only time will tell, Lato does indeed seem to fulfill this objective, and if nothing else it is clear the Reds are taking the steps they find necessary to succeed moving forward. It’s hard for any fan to take issue with that.

Lisa has been a fan of the Cincinnati Reds since her family moved to Cincinnati when she was in elementary school. Her favorite player is the great Barry Larkin and she looks forward to him receiving his just rewards and being inducted in the Hall of Fame. Lisa was away at college when the Reds won the World Series in 1990 and forever regrets not being in town to celebrate appropriately. She longs for the day when her Reds win it all again.

Cash Kruth, “Cincinnati Reds land Mat Latos in five-player deal with San Diego Padres,” reds.com

Player Stats, reds.com

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Former New York Mets general manager
Omar Minaya is returning to Major League Baseball with the San
Diego Padres.

Minaya, 53, will serve as senior vice president of baseball
operations, Padres general manager Josh Byrnes said in a
statement released today by the team. Minaya was fired by the
Mets following the 2010 season, after the team’s second
consecutive fourth-place finish in the National League East
division.

“We’re excited to add Omar to our staff,” Byrnes said.
“His experience, knowledge, evaluative skills and connections
throughout the industry will be invaluable for us.”

The Padres were 71-97 last season, finishing 23 games
behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West. San Diego has
not made the playoffs since 2006.

– Editor: Rob Gloster

To contact the reporter on this story:
Eben Novy-Williams in New York at
enovywilliam@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net

SAN DIEGO (AP) – The San Diego Padres have offered salary arbitration to All-Star closer Heath Bell and right-hander Aaron Harang.

New general manager Josh Byrnes says the move was predictable.
If the players decline, the Padres will receive compensatory draft
picks.

Byrnes says it’s unlikely the players will accept arbitration, but the team will prepare for either scenario.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres have offered salary arbitration to All-Star closer Heath Bell and right-hander Aaron Harang.

New general manager Josh Byrnes says the move was predictable. If the players decline, the Padres will receive compensatory draft picks.

Byrnes says it’s unlikely the players will accept arbitration, but the team will prepare for either scenario.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.