ROUNDUP

Roundup
Braves fighting for Furcal: Rafael Furcal's agent said Thursday that the Braves remain in contention to keep the shortstop, who also is being courted by the Cubs and Dodgers. Paul Kinzer said negotiations are ongoing with all three teams. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry met with Kinzer and Furcal Sunday, and Kinzer met again with Braves officials Wednesday. "There were more years and more money on the table from a few other teams," Kinzer said. Furcal, the 2000 NL Rookie of the Year, is friends with Cubs infielders Aramis Ramirez and Neifi Perez, and he has a long respect for the Dodgers based on that organization's strong presence in his native Dominican Republic, Kinzer said.
Washington stadium issue: Major League Baseball owners will consider a proposal to shift the site of a new Washington Nationals stadium, District of Columbia Council members said following a one hour meeting Thursday with baseball's point man on lease negotiations. The council sought the meeting with Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf to express concerns about the escalating costs. Councilmen Jim Graham and David A. Catania said Reinsdorf agreed to discuss the possibility of shifting the site of the proposed 41,000-seat ballpark with the committee dealing with the Nationals. Building the stadium on the site stipulated in the agreement to move the Expos to Washington, the Anacostia waterfront south of the Capitol, could cost $589 million, according to council estimates. Several council members want to build the stadium adjacent to RFK Stadium, where the Nationals played last season. They contend that it would be less expensive, particularly if the federal government agrees to transfer land to the city.
Red Sox sue for ball: The Red Sox asked a judge to let the team keep the ball that Doug Mientkiewicz caught for the final out that clinched Boston's 2004 World Series title. Ownership of the ball has been in dispute during the 13 months since pitcher Keith Foulke flipped it to Mientkiewicz, giving Boston a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals and its first World Series championship in 86 years. Mientkiewicz, who clutched the ball in his glove and joined teammates in celebration, later put the ball in a safe deposit box and claimed ownership when the Red Sox asked for it. In January, after he was traded to the New York Mets, he loaned the ball to the Red Sox for one year. He would get it back "unless the ultimate issue of ownership has been otherwise resolved," the agreement said.
Player moves: The Cubs traded minor league reliever Jermaine Van Buren to the Red Sox for a player to be named. Van Buren, 25, a right-hander, went 0-2 with a 3.00 ERA in six games for the Cubs last season. ... Jason Kershner and the Brewers agreed to a minor league contract. The 28-year-old left-hander was 5-2 with a 3.15 ERA and one save last season at Triple-A Portland. ... Free agent catcher Sal Fasano and the Phillies agreed to a $425,000, one-year contract. The 35-year-old spent most of last year with the Orioles and hit .250 with a career-high 11 homers and 20 RBIs in 64 games and 160 at-bats. ... Left-hander Tommy Phelps and right-hander Jimmy Journell agreed to minor league contracts with the Reds and were invited to spring training.
Associated Press
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