Sale of Conn. baseball team to Richmond group appears to be close

The city manager of Norwich, Conn., said today that the sale of the Class AA Connecticut Defenders franchise appears imminent. Richmond Baseball Club LC is presumed to be the buyer, and that group intends to relocate the franchise to Richmond in 2010.

Representatives of Minor League Baseball and the parties involved in the deal have not publicly acknowledged the likelihood of a transaction, expected to be finalized in the next few weeks. The Connecticut Defenders -- the Class AA affiliate of the San Francisco Giants -- are based in Norwich. Alan Bergren, Norwich's city manager, said "all indications point to a sale that is in the offing."

Bergren confirmed that the Norwich City Council plans to consider a resolution on Monday that would transfer the lease of Dodd Stadium, where the Defenders play home games, from the Defenders' ownership group to Richmond Baseball Club LC.

Bergren said Norwich city officials have been approached by a representative of the Defenders' owner, Lou DiBella, and told "the sale of the team was going to happen." Bergren added that the city can't block the sale.

Bryan Bostic, chairman of Richmond Baseball Club LC, chose not to comment. Bostic's group plans to buy the franchise for about $15 million before this baseball season begins, operate the Defenders in Connecticut during 2009, and relocate the franchise to Richmond in 2010.

The Eastern League team would play 2010 and 2011 at The Diamond while a new ballpark is being built, according to the blueprint of Richmond Baseball Club LC. Bergren said he has heard that another minor-league franchise "is waiting in the wings" for Norwich after the Defenders leave Dodd Stadium. That franchise likely is one that belongs to the Class A short-season New York-Penn League.

Bostic's group hopes to move the Class AA franchise into a $60 million ballpark that's part of the Shockoe Center proposal. The city continues to study that plan.

Minor League Baseball representatives have said they want to see a firm plan for a new stadium or plans for a major renovation of The Diamond before approving a relocation application that would allow the Connecticut franchise to move to Richmond.

Eastern League president Joe McEacharn has said the relocation application would have to be approved by August in order for a team to play in Richmond in 2010.

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