Rehab central: Peavy, Hudson and Boone - MLB

In a story you can’t help but be impressed by — unless you’re a Red Sox fan — Aaron Boone played in his second minor league rehab game of the week on Wednesday, going 1-for-2 at the plate for the Corpus Christi Hooks, a Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros.

Boone, 36, is trying to return to the majors after having heart surgery in late March because of a congenital defect in his aortic valve.

He hopes to return to the Astros sometime this season after rosters are expanded on Sept. 1.

Meanwhile in other injury news, two prominent pitchers — Jake Peavy and Tim Hudson — made rehab starts on Thursday. Both could make huge impacts on their teams’ playoff hopes if they manage to get healthy.

Peavy, acquired by the White Sox at the trade deadline, tossed three sparkling innings for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights in his first start since June 8. He struck out five and allowed one hit and one walk in three scoreless innings.

Peavy, who is recovering from a strained tendon in his ankle, pitched out of the stretch in the third inning in an attempt to get comfortable in that situation. Now it’s just a matter of building strength.

I don’t feel like I’m as strong as I’m going to be. I did three innings tonight. I’m a long way from going eight-nine innings.”

Peavy is scheduled to start for Charlotte again on Tuesday, and hopes to join the White Sox by late August or early September.

Hudson, the Braves right-hander recovering from Tommy John surgery, started slowly before putting in four solid innings for Triple-A Gwinnett. Hudson gave up two runs in the first inning as he attempted to shake off the rust. He allowed five hits and struck out three in four innings, throwing 42 of his 63 pitches for strikes.

All in all, Hudson was pleased. Via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

With Braves teammates Brian McCann and Adam LaRoche watching from the front row at Gwinnett Stadium, Hudson was hitting 92 mph on scouts’ radar guns. The stadium radar gun was low, but Hudson was told his fastball was 90-93 mph, his cut fastball 87-89 mph.

“I’m really happy with how my cutter is right now,” Hudson said. “And I’ve thrown some really good [split-finger fastballs], and that’s obviously tested my elbow really good.”

If everything continues smoothly, a return to the Braves could come after two or three more minor league starts.

CARSON CITY, Nev. — A bill introduced in the Nevada Legislature would give the Oakland Athletics up to $380 million for a potential 30,000 seat, $1.5 billion retractable roof stadium on the Las Vegas Strip.

The bulk of the public funding would come from $180 million in transferable tax credits from the state and $120 million in county bonds, which can vary based on interest rate returns. Clark County also would contribute $25 million in credit toward infrastructure costs.

The A’s have been looking for a home to replace Oakland Coliseum, where the team has played since arriving from Kansas City for the 1968 season. The team had sought to build a stadium in Fremont, San Jose and finally the Oakland waterfront, all ideas that never materialized.

The plan in the Nevada Legislature won’t directly raise taxes. It can move forward with a simply majority vote in the Senate and Assembly. Lawmakers have a little more than a week to consider the proposal before they adjourn June 5, though it could be voted on if a special session is called.

The Athletics have agreed to use land on the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip, where the Tropicana Las Vegas casino resort sits. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao has said he is disappointed the team didn’t negotiate with Oakland as a “true partner.”

Las Vegas would be the fourth home for a franchise that started as the Philadelphia Athletics from 1901-54. It would become the smallest TV market in Major League Baseball and the smallest market to be home to three major professional sports franchises.

The team and Las Vegas are hoping to draw from the nearly 40 million tourists who visit the city annually to help fill the stadium. The 30,000-seat capacity would make it the smallest MLB stadium.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said a vote on the Oakland Athletics’ prospective move to Las Vegas could take place when owners meet June 13-15 in New York.

The plan faces an uncertain path in the Nevada Legislature. Democratic leaders said financing bills, including for the A’s, may not go through if Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoes the five budget bills, which he has threatened to do as many of his priorities have stalled or faded in the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

Under the bill, the Clark County Board of Commissioners would create a homelessness prevention and assistance fund along the stadium’s area in coordination with MLB and the Nevada Resort Association. There, they would manage funds for services, including emergency rental and utility assistance, job training, rehabilitation and counseling services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The lease agreement with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority would be up for renewal after 30 years.

Nevada’s legislative leadership is reviewing the proposal, Democratic state Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager said in a statement.

“No commitment will be made until we have both evaluated the official proposal and received input from interested parties, including impacted community members,” Yeager said.