BASEBALL : DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES

The Arizona Senate approved legislation to allow three counties to subsidize improvements at spring training parks through special taxes, and state officials hailed it as the salvation of the so-called Cactus League.

“It’s very good news,” said Joe Garagiola Jr., chairman of the Arizona Baseball Commission. “I think it indicates to the teams involved that we are very serious about keeping the Cactus League here, that we are not taking it for granted, and that we are prepared to make the financial commitment to see this league be strong.”

The Mariners’ and Angels’ leases in Tempe and Palm Springs, respectively, expire after the 1992 preseason.

The city of Tempe broke off lease-extension talks with the Mariners recently and began negotiating with the Angels as a replacement.

Kevin Uhlich, the Angels’ director of operations, said the legislation would allow Tempe to make the $3.5 million to $4 million in improvements necessary to lock California into Diablo Stadium.

“Our need and the city of Tempe’s need has been a perfect match. Part of the obstacle here is that we really feel Diablo needs a facelift . . . and the city really did not have the budget to do it,” Uhlich said.

The Angels train in Mesa, the San Diego Padres in Yuma, the Cleveland Indians in Tucson, with the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland Athletics training in the Phoenix area.

The Indians will move to Homestead, Fla., for 1993 spring training, ending an Arizona affiliation that began in 1947. Officials hope Denver’s expansion team will train in Arizona.