BOSTON -- Boston Red Sox executives plan to open the team's confidential financial records to potential buyers within the next week in a move aimed at jump-starting the formal bid process for the team, according to a published report.

Chief Executive John Harrington will make the records available to qualified buyers, The Boston Globe reported, citing Major League Baseball sources it did not identify.

Bolstered by the team's first-place standing and a recently negotiated lucrative cable contract, sports financing experts predict the sale of the Yawkey Trust's 53 percent stake in the team could set a record, garnering $300 million or more.

The bidding process, however, also will force the Red Sox to acknowledge that since the team has been unable to nail down a financing deal for the proposed Fenway ballpark, prospective bidders will have to at least consider other options, including other sites in Greater Boston or renovating 89-year-old Fenway Park.

"Potential buyers will have to look at alternatives to the Red Sox plan," said sports financing specialist Larry Moulter, who helped put together the deal to finance the FleetCenter.

"Even the Red Sox admit that there are some important blind spots in their plan, including who will cover the overruns on the land and construction costs. So from a financial perspective, anyone thinking of bidding on the team has to consider other options."

The Red Sox declined to discuss details of the sale. "The process continues to move forward," said team attorney Justin P. Morreale.

After Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino encouraged the team to build in the Fenway, Harrington invested millions to push the team's plan for a new home on privately owned land across from Fenway Park. As the team's trustee, Harrington has a fiduciary duty to get the highest price for the team.

"There's no question that to maximize the value of the team, you would want as many viable options as possible," said Dean Bonham of Denver-based Bonham Group.

"The new ballpark is clearly an important linchpin in this deal since it can add 10 to 20 percent in net new revenues to an organization like the Red Sox who are playing in an antiquated facility like Fenway."

A variety of alternative ballpark plans are being floated by prospective bidders.

Developer Frank McCourt has quietly promoted plans for a new waterfront ballpark on land he owns in the South Boston Seaport area. Others have touted sites in Somerville, Quincy, Everett and Revere.

Some potential bidders have also discussed rebuilding or expanding Fenway Park.