San Jose Wants The A’s, But Needed Antitrust Claim Falls Flat

The city of San Jose’s argument that Major League Baseball not allowing the Oakland A’s to relocate there was in violation of antitrust laws seemed to fall on deaf ears before a three-judge Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel this week. The city sued two years ago, claiming the league interfered with its business deal to build a ballpark for the team under an option agreement. Two of the three judges questioned whether San Jose can actually show economic harm from the league’s refusal to move the team, and according to the Mercury News they appeared far less convinced than they would have to be to strip the MLB of its nearly century-old antitrust exemption to move forward with the case.