Expos 'set for DC switch'

Major League Baseball is set to confirm that the Montreal Expos will move to Washington for the 2005 season, according to reports.

The Washington Post and USA Today claimed that a deal is nearly set to shift the National League club, which has been financed the past two seasons by the other 29 major league owners.

USA Today reported an announcement is likely on Thursday - exactly 33 years after the American League's Washington Senators played their final game before moving to Texas.

Thursday is also the day before a deadline for Washington city officials to act upon legislation to approve money for construction of a new $440m stadium.

That publicly-funded payout would include a renovation of RFK Stadium, former home of the Senators and the likely home of the Expos for three years while the new stadium is built.

The Expos have struggled with tight budgets and have played some home games the past two seasons in Puerto Rico.

Bob DuPuy, president of Major League Baseball, said a decision is expected by the end of the regular season, which is on Sunday.

"We're all running out of time," he said. "But I'd like to think everybody is on the same wavelength with regard to time schedules."

If the move goes ahead it will mean disappointment for rival bidders for the franchise in Las Vegas, Puerto Rico, Norfolk, Virginia and Portland, Oregon.