Editing Bud Selig (section)

===2001 contraction attempt===
{{main|2001 Major League Baseball contraction plan}}
After the conclusion of the [[2001 World Series]], Selig held a vote on contracting two teams, reportedly the [[Minnesota Twins]] and [[Montreal Expos]].<ref name="ESPN-ContractionTimeline">{{cite web| last = Schoenfield| first = David| title = Still 30 teams: Contraction timeline| work = ESPN.com| date = February 5, 2002| url = http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/s/2002/0205/1323230.html| access-date = October 7, 2008 }}</ref> This action led to Selig (along with former Expos owner [[Jeffrey Loria]]) being sued for racketeering and conspiring with Loria to deliberately defraud the Expos minority owners.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chass|first1=Murray|author-link1=Murray Chass|title=A Group's Racketeering Suit Brings Baseball to Full Bristle|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/17/sports/baseball-a-group-s-racketeering-suit-brings-baseball-to-full-bristle.html|access-date=February 11, 2016|work=New York Times|date=July 17, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Joseph|first1=Dave|title=Keep An Eye On Selig, Loria|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2002-07-17/sports/0207170092_1_marlins-bud-selig-suit|access-date=February 11, 2016|work=Sun Sentinel|date=July 17, 2002|archive-date=October 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010043926/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2002-07-17/sports/0207170092_1_marlins-bud-selig-suit|url-status=dead}}</ref> If found liable, the league could have been ordered to pay as much as $500 million in total damages.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Grace|first1=Francie|title=Racketeering Suit Names Baseball Execs|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/racketeering-suit-names-baseball-execs/|access-date=February 11, 2016|agency=Reuters|work=CBS News|date=July 17, 2002}}</ref> The judge ruled that the Expos could not be moved or contracted until the case was over.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Talalay|first1=Sarah|title=Suit Against Marlins' Loria Put On Hold Pending Arbitration Ruling|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2002-11-16/sports/0211150867_1_jeffrey-loria-loria-and-samson-arbitration|access-date=February 11, 2016|work=Sun Sentinel|date=November 16, 2002|quote=Kessler was also not disappointed by the judge's ruling, which allows the partners to come back to court to request an injunction to prevent the Expos from being relocated, should baseball try to move them before the arbitration is resolved.|archive-date=December 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211234930/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2002-11-16/sports/0211150867_1_jeffrey-loria-loria-and-samson-arbitration|url-status=dead}}</ref> The case eventually went to arbitration and was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.<ref>{{cite news|title=Once panel makes decision, other options then unfold|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=1461497&type=news|access-date=February 11, 2016|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=November 15, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=How Jeff Loria became the miracle Marlin|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2011/11/14/how-jeff-loria-became-the-miracle-marlin/|access-date=February 11, 2016|first1=Nathan|last1=Vardi|work=Forbes|date=November 14, 2011}}</ref>

A week after Selig's announcement, Hennepin County Judge Harry Seymour Crump issued a temporary restraining order that forced the Twins to honor their lease and play the 2002 season at the [[Metrodome]].<ref name=ipppav>{{Cite web|url=http://www.twincities.com/2014/07/10/contraction-nearly-stole-twins-baseball-from-minnesota/|title = Contraction nearly stole Twins baseball from Minnesota|date = July 10, 2014}}</ref> In August 2002, the effort to contract the Twins officially fizzled as players and owners reached a consensus on a new labor agreement which extended the team's Metrodome lease.<ref name=ipppav />