Tampa Yankees-to-Orlando talks ongoing

If an Orlando businessman gets his way, the minor league Tampa Yankees could play in Orlando by 2013.

On Thursday, the Orange County government, New York Yankees representatives and businessman Armando Gutierrez confirmed they are considering a partnership that could move the team to Orlando. The three groups announced the potential move at a news conference in Orlando.

Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty said residents will not be asked to pay for a new ballpark. However, Crotty said the county may provide land for a stadium along International Drive, near Sea World.

The Yankees confirmed they are considering a partial sale of the minor league team, a Class A team in the Florida State League, to Gutierrez's investor group. The potential deal will not impact the major league team's spring training operations in Tampa, the parties said.

Gutierrez, a one-time candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, reiterated that message.

"You're not losing spring training. That would be my comment to Tampa," Gutierrez said.

Many details still have to be worked out, including how a new stadium would be financed. Gutierrez said he has "multiple" options for financing, but he did not name them. Also, while the county has discussed providing 12-15 acres for a new ballpark, it hasn't committed to doing so, Crotty said.

If the Class A Yankees relocate to Orlando, specifically to the International Drive area near the Orange County Convention Center, it could be another destination for tourists and conventioneers, Crotty said.

Toward the end of the news conference, Gutierrez fielded questions, including whether a minor league club would satisfy a region as big as Orlando. Gutierrez suggested players at the Class A Yankees one day might wind up in the big leagues.

"You have a chance to see an 18- or 19-year-old Derek Jeter before he becomes a Hall of Famer," Gutierrez said, referring to the New York Yankees all-star shortstop and Tampa resident.