The Pittsburg Pirates chief executive officer, Kevin McClatchy, who toured China recently with several other Major League Baseball executives, would like to see his team play 2008 exhibitions there late in spring training, then go to Japan for a season-opening series, USA Today reported Friday. MLB President Bob DuPuy says no decision has been made but reiterates his desire to have the exhibitions in Beijing before the season opener in Tokyo, the report said. "Nothing is set in stone," McClatchy told USA Today. "This is something we're interested in." In 2000, the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets opened the season in Tokyo, and the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays started there in 2004. The Pirates include Japanese pitcher Masumi Kuwata, who became the oldest Japanese player to make his major league debut at 39 years and two months on Sunday against the New York Yankees.
