Scottsdale courts D-Backs for spring training

SCOTTSDALE - Spring is in the air in Scottsdale as the city expresses an interest in bringing the Arizona Diamondbacks in for spring training.

With the Chicago White Sox bolting Tucson for Glendale, it appears the Diamondbacks are interested in moving spring training to the Phoenix-area. The Sox's departure would leave only the Diamondbacks and the Rockies training in Tucson.

Although the Diamondbacks have not contacted Scottsdale, city officials plan to talk to the team, Scottsdale spokesman Pat Dodds said.

"We are going to contact the Diamondbacks organization to find out whether they are open to a dialogue about possibilities for spring training in Scottsdale," Dodds wrote in an e-mail.

"Some city staff members have had very general conversations about this idea, and that's the extent of it."

The Diamondbacks have indicated they're checking out at least four possible spring training sites around metro Phoenix.

The Diamondbacks and Rockies' deal with Tucson and Pima County allows both teams to leave if there isn't at least a third team to train with in Pima County.

With only two teams training in Tucson, the Diamondbacks feel they're at a disadvantage since teams that train in the Phoenix-area don't always send all their top players to Tucson, Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall said.

The Diamondbacks and the Rockies could wind up playing each other several times.

However, having a facility in metro Phoenix would cut back on travel time for the team, Hall said.

Considering a facility would be a "great conversation" to have with the city, Hall said.

"There wouldn't be an "oversaturation" of spring training facilities in the area, home to a sizable number of baseball fans."

Scottsdale already plays host to the San Francisco Giants.

Some estimates show the Giants' spring training generates more than $10 million in annual revenue for Scottsdale and local businesses.