MLB's current CBA expires on Dec. 1 and talks about a new deal have reached a stage where Commissioner Rob Manfred is "sitting in on some meetings," but it is uncertain "whether a deal can be agreed upon by the end of the World Series," according to Phil Rogers of MLB.com. Manfred said, "I have said, in terms of timing, various things, but I am optimistic we'll have a deal this fall. I remain optimistic about that. I think there are some natural deadlines out there. The beginning of the free-agency period and the expiration of the agreement on December 1. I'm hopeful that we'll be able to get an agreement in advance of those natural deadlines.'' Manfred noted that a recent report of a reduction of the regular-season schedule from 162 games to 154 games being discussed "was inaccurate." He said, "It's likely that the scheduling issues being discussed are matters involving game times and off-days." Meanwhile, MLB "hopes to have streaming of local games available in all 30 markets next season." The league "negotiated a lifting of blackouts with teams carried by Fox for this season and has remained in talks" with other RSNs (MLB.com, 10/10).
SOME ISSUES POPPING UP: In Boston, Nick Cafardo cited a source as saying that there "were a few issues" within the CBA talks that "weren’t going as swimmingly as being depicted." One of the "big guessing games involves how much the luxury tax threshold will increase" with the new deal. The tax is at $189M now, and there are "reasonable estimates that it will rise" to more than $200M, but "not in excess of that figure." That would "allow for more big free agent signings, though not likely in this current market" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/9).
