BASEBALL Pirates won't offer contract to Lincoln

The reliever became a free agent on Saturday.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates declined to offer a 2004 contract to Mike Lincoln on Saturday, making the reliever a free agent.
Starting pitcher Kip Wells, shortstop Jack Wilson and first baseman-catcher Craig Wilson were offered contracts and are eligible for salary arbitration.
Lincoln, a right-hander, had figured to earn a raise of at least $200,000 in arbitration from his $315,000 salary of last season.
Lincoln missed the first half of last season with a shoulder injury that occurred during spring training. His 5.20 ERA in 36 appearances was nearly two runs per game higher than in 2002.
The Pirates previously re-signed right-handed relievers Brian Meadows and Solomon Torres, making Lincoln expendable.
Marlins' ballpark
MIAMI -- The Florida Marlins' plans to build a new ballpark appear to be dead, The Sun-Sentinel reported Saturday.
City officials said they can't donate land or money for the stadium and a proposed sales tax increase in Miami-Dade County to raise money for the project is having trouble gaining support.
The World Series champion Marlins are trying to rally support to build a $325 million stadium. The cost would be $450 million without a donation of the land.
"We really cannot find the moneys to come up with for the stadium, and the county's really reluctant to put the referendum for a half-cent sales tax on the ballot," Miami City Manager Joe Arriola was quoted as saying by the paper. "As far as the city is concerned, there's not going to be a deal ... this is over."
Last month, Miami-Dade commissioners pledged $73 million in hotel bed and sports facilities taxes toward the project, if the Marlins would kick in $137 million and a full financing package was in place by March 15. The Marlins agreed and the city at first was expected to donate the land. But that still left a $115 million shortfall.
City commissioners voted Thursday to ask the County Commission to put a referendum requesting a half-cent sales tax for 18 months on the March 9 ballot to raise at least $225 million for a stadium. City and county officials met Friday to discuss the proposal.
County commissioners already intend to ask voters in November to approve a $1 billion public-works bond, so they were wary of asking taxpayers for more money, the paper reported.
"The city doesn't really have a lot of options, in their view, on funding strategies for the land piece," County Manager George Burgess was quoted as saying. "The referendum, in their view, works better for them.
"I suppose it's not impossible," Burgess said. "I think it's going to be tough."
Arriola also argued the Marlins weren't putting enough cash in the project.
Team spokesman Steve Copses did not return a telephone call Saturday seeking comment.
Obituary
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Dick Butler, who spent 49 years as a major and minor league baseball executive, died Saturday at 92.
He died at the James L. West Alzheimer's Home in Fort Worth, Texas Rangers spokesman John Blake said.
He began his professional baseball career in 1946 as an assistant to commissioner A.B. "Happy" Chandler. He held that job until 1951.