On Sunday, the New York Daily News’ Bill Madden wrote that MLB will continue to honor the San Francisco Giants’ territorial rights in San Jose, California, preventing the Oakland Athletics from moving there.

Not so fast, says the commissioner’s office. Henry Schulman:

I’ve just been told by someone in the commissioner’s office that contrary to what a New York newspaper suggested yesterday, the A’s proposed move to San Jose is not on life support. And, it is not true that Commissioner Bud Selig and baseball owners have all but decided to uphold the Giants’ territorial rights to San Jose, which would preclude the A’s from going there.

Schulman further writes that Madden’s column “does not reflect the current situation”, and further:

It’s also clear to me that Selig is engaging in shuttle diplomacy between the A’s and Giants to try to forge a negotiated settlement, which undoubtedly would be the best way to end the stalemate.

These negotiations have been going on for nearly three years. Nearly everyone in baseball except the Giants recognizes that it would be best for the game if the A’s were allowed to move to San Jose. One of these days, maybe Bud Selig will actually push the owners to do the right thing.