SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Giants CEO Larry Baer disputed the notion that a decision would be upcoming on the A's potential move to Santa Clara County, a territory the Giants have held since it was ceded to them in 1993.
But Baer might have offered a clue when asked if the negotiations had reached the settlement stage.
"Not necessarily," he said, after a long pause.
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The Giants have staunchly protected their claim to the South Bay, arguing that the loss of it would greatly damage their franchise value. A hefty percentage of their sponsorship revenue comes from Santa Clara County; a number of their investors have ties to Silicon Valley's corporate titans, too.
"This is something that is not new," Baer said. "This was discussed when Steve Schott owned the team 12 years ago. It's been studied, it's being studied and we're cooperating.
It's not good for the game to have internal back-and-forth between the teams. It's just not good for the game."
While the A's continue to starve with an outdated ballpark, weak attendance and a roster subject to constant turnover, the Giants are expected to draw more than 3 million this season. Despite coming off a disappointing year in which they missed the playoffs, Baer said the Giants have a chance to sell out the season for the second consecutive year.
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"We have a chance, with the way we're tracking right now," he said. "It's been remarkable."