Cablevision Systems Corp. chairman Charles F. Dolan, in a last-ditch effort to prevent the sale of the Boston Red Sox to a rival group led by Florida financier John Henry, is offering to pay $40 million more than Henry to buy the franchise.

        In a move likely to reopen the already record-breaking auction for the team, the Red Sox indicated Thursday night they would consider Dolan's $740 million offer. The bid includes $440 million for the Yawkey Trust's controlling interest in the team and $260 million for the team's limited partners.

        Daniel Goldberg, a lawyer for the Red Sox, said in a brief written statement that “we are in the process of letting the Red Sox limited partners know of this development and will comment further when appropriate.”

        In an interview with the Boston Globe Thursday night, Dolan said he made the late offer because “the Red Sox are a wonderful franchise in a great market.”

        Dolan's offer, which took the Red Sox by surprise, comes three weeks after the limited partners voted unanimously to accept Henry's $700 million offer and only days before Major League Baseball team owners are set to vote on whether to approve the sale of the franchise to Henry.

        A's:

        Outfielder Jermaine Dye won't be ready to play when the Oakland Athletics open spring training next month but expects to be in uniform for the start of the regular season.

        Dye has spent the winter in Arizona rehabilitating his left leg, which he broke during Game 4 of the AL division series between the A's and the New York Yankees in October.

        “It's frustrating, but I'm going by what the doctors say, and hopefully I'll get myself back ready to play the game I love,” Dye said in a conference call from Phoenix on Thursday. “I've got my mind focused on next season and doing what I can to get back on the field.”

        ROCKIES:

        Right-hander Rick White agreed to a $1 million, one-year contract. He pitched the past two seasons for the New York Mets and has a 22-31 career record with 11 saves and a 3.93 ERA.

        TWINS:

        Alabama businessman Donald Watkins met with baseball officials and was given the go-ahead to contact Twins management about making an offer to buy the team.

        “It was a great day, a very positive and productive meeting,” Watkins said.

        Club owner Carl Pohlad has said he is willing to have his franchise folded as part of baseball's contraction plan. But Watkins would like to save the Twins by purchasing the team, a move that would make him the first black controlling owner in major-league history.

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