FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said Wednesday the team still prefers renovating Fenway Park to building a new stadium. And minority owner Tom Werner said a decision will have to be made “in the near future.”

Since buying the team and the stadium before the 2002 season, majority owner John Henry and his partners have made renovations. Seats were added above the left-field wall before last season and others are being added on the right-field roof for this season.

The park, built in 1912, has a capacity of 36,298. Of Boston’s 81 regular-season home games last year, 65 were sold out, including the final 64.

Lucchino doesn’t want a major expansion, since it would affect the intimacy of the park where seats are close to the field. But additional capacity would provide extra revenue to spend on players.

No major decisions were expected at a meeting on the subject Wednesday afternoon. Lucchino, Werner, Henry and club architect Janet Marie Smith were expected to attend.

Their first topic was to be this year’s renovations.

“When we get past that, we’ll consider once again the longer range question of ultimate renovation,” Lucchino said before the session, “but it is still our plan to be renovating Fenway, not exploring new ballpark possibilities.”

Werner indicated that a decision can’t be delayed much longer.

“I think we have to make it in the near future,” he said. “I don’t think we want to continue to make minor improvements. At some point we’re going to have to say “we’re going to stay here under this scenario or we’re not going to stay here.’ “

Werner also stepped back from the verbal battle between the Red Sox and Yankees. After New York traded for Alex Rodriguez, Henry proposed a salary cap. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said that was “sour grapes.”

Commissioner Bud Selig told them to stop, but Henry later said, “I don’t want to equate him (Steinbrenner) with Don Rickles … but if Don Rickles insults you, it’s funny.”

Werner said it was time to change the subject.

“At some point, it’s time to focus on the players,” he said. “A certain amount of teasing is good for the game and certainly sells newspapers. But I do think it’s time to shut up, even if the commissioner didn’t ask us to.”

Notes:A smiling Byung-Hyun Kim said the most important thing he learned last season was to “not use the middle finger.” Boston’s No. 5 starter said through an interpreter Wednesday that he was “half-joking, half-serious” when he made the gesture. Kim raised his middle finger before a playoff game last season when Fenway fans booed him. He apologized the next day. … Werner said Boston’s payroll is more than $125 million, second only to the Yankees. The Red Sox face the potential of having seven key free agents after the season, including Pedro Martinez and Nomar Garciaparra. “We hope we can sign most of them. We also hope that we have the benefit of a hometown discount,” Werner said.

AP-ES-02-25-04 1953EST