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By Gregory Strong

TORONTO

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Commissioner Rob Manfred said the crowds that packed Montreal’s Olympic Stadium for pre-season games were a “very positive thing” in terms of demonstrating the city’s interest in Major League Baseball.

As for the possibility of the sport returning to Montreal at some point in the future, several hurdles remain.

“I do think it’s important for Montreal to have a firm plan as to how they would get to a major-league facility, a site, a financing plan and the like in place,” Manfred said Monday. “In terms of a timeline for an actual franchise, it’s just impossible to tell.

“I mean obviously there are two ways you can get there. Expansion — which I see as a back-burner issue for baseball right now — and relocation. That obviously depends on developments in other markets.”

Earlier this month, over 46,000 fans attended a pre-season game between the Toronto Blue Jays against the Cincinnati Reds. More than 50,000 fans showed up to watch the teams play again the next day.