Red Sox Sale Faces Scrutiny

Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly said Wednesday major league baseball “played a major role” in deciding the winning bidder for the Boston Red Sox, calling into question the fairness of the sale process.

Reilly is investigating the sale of the team after the Red Sox rejected the highest bid in favor of a $660-million offer from a group headed by Florida Marlin owner John Henry, who is close to Commissioner Bud Selig. Lawyer Miles Prentice headed a group that offered $750 million for the team.

“Major league baseball was calling the shots here,” Reilly said after a four-hour meeting with Red Sox Chief Executive Officer John Harrington and team lawyers.

Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief legal counsel, denied the accusation.

The Jean R. Yawkey Trust owns a majority stake in the team. Reilly, whose office oversees charities and charitable trusts, said he is obligated to ensure that the charities receive the maximum benefit from the sale.

The charities stand to gain more than $400 million from the deal.

The Red Sox have said that Prentice’s bid was unacceptable because he had not secured financing.

Players resume their grievance today to ensure the Minnesota Twins and Montreal Expos play this year.

Arbitrator Shyam Das, who presided over five days of testimony last month, will resume the hearing.

The two sides have tentatively agreed to start working next week on a collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that expired Nov. 7. Owners voted Nov. 6 to fold two franchises.

The union claims the decision violated terms of the expired collective bargaining agreement, which remains in force.

Left-handed reliever Mike Holtz signed a $1.8-million, two-year contract with the Oakland Athletics. He was 1-2 with a 4.86 earned-run average and no saves with the Angels last season....Reliever Mike Williams signed a $7-million, two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He began last season with the Pirates and was traded to Houston in July....Detroit Tiger right-hander Brian Moehler, who sat out most of last season because of shoulder problems, signed a $2.4-million, one-year contract with the club....Free-agent infielder Chris Stynes and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a $1.25-million, one-year contract....Matt Walbeck, the Angels’ catcher in 1998-99, agreed to a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres.