By DEREK PUDDICOMBE, CITY HALL BUREAU One, two, three strikes and the Lynx are out, but another saviour for baseball in Ottawa might be set to step up to the plate. The Triple-A Lynx have all but officially given notice to the city that they don't intend to return next season. However, the head of the Can-Am Association of Professional Baseball hopes to bring a franchise to Ottawa with investors that could include the likes of Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels. League commissioner Miles Wolff was in town yesterday speaking with city officials about the possibility of leasing Lynx Stadium. "This is a great stadium and a great city. We can make a go of it," said Wolff, who is from North Carolina and owns a team that plays out of Quebec City. LAWSUIT Wolff said the league is prepared to schedule an Ottawa team for next year's lineup, but there are a few hurdles, including leases and lawsuits, to negotiate first. The Lynx lease isn't up until 2009 and if the franchise leaves before that date, the city can penalize the club almost $3 million for lost revenue. The Lynx, meanwhile, have launched an $11-million lawsuit against the city, claiming it didn't honour some of the guarantees it negotiated to help the team stay in Ottawa. City lawyer Rick O'Connor said the city is still awaiting word from the Lynx about their status. "We fully expect them to honour their agreement," said O'Connor. Wolff is also working on putting a team in Montreal by 2009. "With a team in Quebec City, Montreal and Ottawa there is the potential to create great rivalries," he said. Innes Coun. Rainer Bloess said the city and the Lynx must resolve their legal impasse before fans will see another team in Ottawa. "Right now, we are in limbo," said Bloess. "It's the limbo that is hurting the city and any opportunity out there." Wolff said a Can-Am franchise could survive financially in the nation's capital when the Lynx couldn't because overhead costs in his league are much lower. But lower club costs don't mean a lower standard of ball, he said. Games in the independent Can-Am league can be more exciting than Triple-A ball, said Wolff, because it's players' last opportunity to show they've got what it takes to make it to the big leagues. "There will be lots of intensity," he said. The Can-Am league's season is also shorter, lasting from the end of May to Labour Day, and the average player's salary of about $1,500 a month allows for cheaper operating costs. Triple-A baseball starts in April, when weather can be unpredictable. "When it's cold and miserable, it's not a fun experience," said Wolff.