New York ? Baseball had a loud message in its first meetings with suitors who want to lure the Expos from Montreal: Show us the money.

Financing for a new ballpark is the top priority for the committee, which wants to know how fast the areas — Portland, Ore., Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia — could put in place plans to accommodate the Expos in 2004.

“The committee is clearly focused on funding,” said Bobby Goldwater, executive director of the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission.

Portland mayor Vera Katz and District of Columbia mayor Anthony A. Williams led their delegations Tuesday. Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore heads the Northern Virginia group, which meets with the committee today.

Katz said she believes baseball wants to make a decision by the end of the summer and said the groups will be invited back for more formal presentations in six-to-eight weeks.

The committee commissioner Bud Selig established in November was represented by White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, three baseball officials and two consultants.

The Expos, who report to spring training in 16 days for what could be their final season in Montreal, have drawn poorly at Olympic Stadium. The franchise was purchased before the 2002 season by the other 29 teams and is operated by the commissioner’s office.

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Giants sign Cruz: San Francisco signed free agent Jose Cruz Jr. to a $2.8 million, one-year contract Tuesday to fill the vacancy created in right field by Reggie Sanders’ departure.

Cruz, who hit .245 with 18 homers and 70 RBIs for Toronto last season, will get $2.5 million in 2003 and has a mutual option with the Giants for 2004 at $4 million.

Cruz, 28 hit 34 homers and stole 32 bases for Toronto in 2001. He has a .251 batting average in seven major league seasons.

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Brewers add Vander Wal: Outfielder John Vander Wal agreed Tuesday to a minor league contract with Milwaukee. Vander Wal, 36, hit .260 in 84 games for the New York Yankees last season.

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Pirates sign pitcher: Pittsburgh agreed to terms with pitcher Julian Tavarez on a minor league contract Tuesday and invited him to spring training. Tavarez, 29, was 10-12 with a 5.39 ERA for Florida last season.

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Schoeneweis agrees with Angels: Pitcher Scott Schoeneweis and Anaheim agreed Tuesday to a one-year contract worth $1,425,000. Schoeneweis was 9-8 with a 4.88 ERA in 54 games for the World Series champions last season.

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Reichert to join Tampa: Tampa Bay avoided salary arbitration with right-hander Dan Reichert by agreeing Tuesday to a $510,000, one-year contract. Reichert, 26, was claimed off waivers from Kansas City last September.

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Durazo stays with A’s Erubiel Durazo, a first baseman and designated hitter obtained by Oakland in a four-team trade last month, agreed to terms with the Athletics on a one-year contract worth $1,065,000. Durazo, 28, hit .261 on 76 games for Arizona.

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Judge rules against umpires: A federal judge ruled that an attempt by baseball owners to discipline umpires union head John Hirschbeck is not subject to arbitration.

Hirschbeck was sent a warning letter last May 10 by the commissioner’s office, saying that during an April 28 game in Cincinnati he told plate umpire Mark Carlson not to issue a warning to Cincinnati’s Gabe White after a pitch sailed over the head of San Francisco’s Barry Bonds.

In addition, baseball said its computerized umpire evaluation system showed “a high percentage of missed calls of balls and strikes” by Hirschbeck in a game on May 4. The World Umpires Association attempted to file a grievance on May 29.

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Players pondering grievance: Baseball players have taken the first step toward a possible collusion grievance against owners, requesting management documents about negotiations with free agents during this offseason. Under baseball’s labor contract, grievances must be filed within 45 days of the alleged violation. By filing the document request last week, a grievance would cover events starting in early December.