Marlins could be on move

Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said yesterday that discussions with San Antonio officials about the possibility of relocating the team there are serious.

San Antonio has been trying to lure the team and county officials have offered to put up $200 million toward an estimated $300 million ballpark if voters approve extending a tax on hotel and car rentals.

The Marlins slashed their payroll to about $15 million this offseason because of poor attendance and no progress in Loria's bid for a baseball-specific stadium. Florida plays at Dolphins Stadium, home of Miami's NFL team.

''We're still looking at all our options, but our talks in San Antonio are serious," Loria said at Minute Maid Park before addressing his team. Loria said several officials from San Antonio would join him today when the Marlins open the season against the Houston Astros.

Loria remained evasive when asked whether he has any hope the Marlins can remain in South Florida, but said no negotiations are ongoing there.

''I can only tell you at this moment that there's nothing going on in South Florida," he said.

The Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame in Hernando, Fla., closed its doors after 12 years, a victim of a lack of attendance and interest following the baseball star's death.

''You can't exist too many years like that without having some kind of endowment backing you," said longtime museum volunteer David Staples. ''We just weren't near any metropolitan areas where you could draw regular attendance."

The museum's baseball exhibits are being moved to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, and Staples hopes a home can be found for Williams's fishing memorabilia and war exhibits as well.

Noah Lowry received quite the affirmation of his status in San Francisco's rotation, signing a four-year contract that guarantees the pitcher at least $9.25 million. The 25-year-old Lowry, who went 13-13 last season, is under contract through the 2009 season and the Giants have a club option for 2010. The lefthander gets a $1 million signing bonus. He was already set to make $385,000 this season and will earn $1.115 million in 2007, $2.25 million in '08, and $4.5 million in '08. The Giants have a $6.25 million option that could reach $7.75 million with escalators . . . Closer Derrick Turnbow and the Brewers agreed to a $6.5 million, three-year contract, replacing the $488,000, one-year deal he signed in February . . . Dodgers center fielder Kenny Lofton has a strained left calf and will begin the season on the disabled list for the first time in his 16-year career . . . Minnesota assigned outfielder Ruben Sierra to its minor league camp. Sierra has a strained quadriceps, and the Twins will wait until he's healed to bring him up . . . The Rockies placed righthander Byung Hyun Kim and catcher Yorvit Torrealba on the 15-day DL.