A "breakthrough" today in MLB's labor negotiations "is
probably too much to ask for," according to Tom Haudricourt in
this morning's MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. But indications are
that the owners "are coming around on the issue of service time."
Chief management negotiator Randy Levine and MLBPA Exec Dir Don
Fehr are tentatively scheduled to meet today, but Levine "is not
expected to have a definitive answer on service time, the one
main issue holding up a labor agreement." Acting MLB
Commissioner Bud Selig is believed to have more than the 21 of 28
votes needed to ratify a new deal -- "if other components of the
deal fall into place" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 8/26). Selig
indicated this weekend that a vote by owners "is not imminent"
(Hal Bodley, USA TODAY, 8/26). The WASHINGTON POST reports Selig
has 24 to 25 votes for an agreement "closely resembling" the one
Fehr and Levine had "all but completed" earlier this month. One
source familiar with the ownership deliberations: "I think this
really, truly is the time it's going to get done, sometime
between late Monday and Wednesday" (Mark Maske, WASHINGTON POST,
8/25).
THE KNOBLAUCH SIGNING: The Twins signed All-Star 2B Chuck
Knoblauch to a five-year, $30M deal. Knoblauch is one of the top
players who would become a free agent should service time be
granted in a new CBA. One reason Twins Owner Carl Pohlad went
ahead with the signing, according to Sid Hartman of the
Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, "was that he was not confident that
other team owners would hold their ground on the issue of not
crediting players with strike time" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE,
8/24). The Mets are reportedly close to a deal with OF Bernard
Gilkey, another high-profile service time free agent (USA TODAY,
8/26). ESPN's Peter Gammons said he did not think signing
Knoblauch would change Pohlad's view toward service time.
Gammons: "I don't think he's changed his stance. I just think
he's just been told he can't win in this thing, that Knoblauch
eventually was going to become a free agent and you might as well
sign him" ("SportsWeekly," ESPN, 8/25).
WHAT'S LEFT: If service time is eliminated as a stumbling
block, two main issues remain -- the second tax-free year and
three-person arbitration panels. Sources on the union side say
they will not let arbitration panels be a "deal-breaker" (Ronald
Blum, AP/WASHINGTON TIMES, 8/25).
GET IT DONE: Fox's Chip Caray: "Amazingly, the owners
remain insistent on holding up this landmark agreement over the
fates of just 18 players. ... It's time for the common good to
prevail here and get a deal done so we can move on to the
playoffs and the post season" ("Fox Saturday Baseball," 8/24).
In Milwaukee, Dale Hoffman writes, "It can all happen as early as
Monday. If it doesn't, at least we'll know who to blame. And it
won't be the players" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 8/24). In
Boston, Gammons writes, "Come on, this whole service time issue
is not that big a deal" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/25). In New York, Bill
Madden writes of Selig, "A real leader who cares about the game
and not the interests of a few selfish owners would back Levine
and take the vote" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/25). And Murray Chass:
"It's time to make the deal ... Just think of the possibility --
an agreement this week" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/25).
