The Associated Press

Major League Baseball is pushing back its decision on where to relocate the Montreal Expos until after the All-Star break.

Baseball officials, who postponed deciding the team's future home in both 2002 and 2003, had targeted the July 13 game in Houston as their goal.

"I'm confident a decision will not be made before or at the All-Star Game," Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said Friday after speaking on a panel at the annual convention of the Associated Press Sports Editors. "It's our goal to have narrowed down our decision by the All-Star Game and be focused in."

At the same event, DuPuy mentioned that Major League Baseball and its players have banned the use of andro, the steroidlike substance made famous by Mark McGwire when he hit 70 home runs in 1998.

The ban, which began this season, was never announced by the commissioner's office or the players' association.

NEGRO LEAGUES: Veterans received pension checks from Major League Baseball's new charity this week.

The charity benefits 27 players, all of whom played in the Negro Leagues after Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in 1947. It will provide more than $1 million in benefits to the former players. Checks were sent to players who were most in need; the rest of the group will receive checks at the end of June.

ROYALS: Catcher Kelly Stinnett will have reconstructive elbow surgery and miss the rest of the season.

Stinnett, a nine-year veteran who played with the Reds for three seasons, was hitting .305 with three home runs and seven RBI in 20 games for Kansas City.

WHITE SOX: Chicago put left-hander Scott Schoeneweis on the 15-day disabled list with an inflamed left elbow and recalled right-hander Felix Diaz from Triple-A Charlotte. Schoeneweis is 5-6 with a 4.36 ERA in 14 starts and has lost four straight decisions.

MARLINS: Florida right-hander Josh Beckett was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained back muscle.