TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays and the federal government are making progress toward a national interest exemption and a decision is possible in the next 24 hours, according to baseball industry and government sources.
Discussions between the sides were taking place Friday in a final push to allow the country’s only Major League Baseball team to return to Rogers Centre in time for a pivotal July 30 homestand.
The Blue Jays are extending their deadline of Friday a little longer to play the process out. If they can reach an agreement by Saturday, they’ll still have just enough time to pull off the logistics of a move north from Buffalo.
To be ready for a yes, the club has been preparing its operations for a Toronto return. If approval doesn’t come in time, the Blue Jays will stage the upcoming homestand at Buffalo’s Sahlen Field, their makeshift home since June.
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