MLB owners will "consider voting to lock out the players" if the two sides cannot reach a new CBA before the current deal expires on Dec. 1, according to sources cited by Ken Rosenthal of FOXSPORTS.com. A lockout would put MLB's business "on hold, delaying free-agent signings and trades until a new agreement is reached." The winter meetings, a "joint venture between the majors and minors" scheduled for Dec. 4-8 outside DC, might "still transpire, but without the usual frenzy of major-league activity." Sources said that the possibility of a lockout "stems from the owners’ frustration with the players’ union over the slow pace of the discussions." The two sides "still have more than a week to complete a deal, but a number of significant issues remain unresolved." Sources said that the owners "offered to resolve two of the biggest issues by offering a straight exchange, telling the players they would eliminate direct draft-pick compensation in free agency in exchange for the right to implement an international draft." The players "rejected the proposal, wanting no part of an international draft." The luxury tax is "another point of contention" and the two sides also are at "odds over changes in the Joint Drug Agreement" (FOXSPORTS.com, 11/22). Rosenthal said there may not be "any reason to panic," as it is "not unusual for two sides to be at odds with this much time remaining." But he admitted there "isn't that much time." Rosenthal said he had been hearing about the gulf between the sides for "quite some time now." He ultimately expects a resolution, saying, "There is too much good that has happened that you don’t want to screw up -- too much revenue coming in, too many great things happened last season. There is every reason to get a deal done" ("Tim & Sid," Sportsnet, 11/22).
HOLD THAT THOUGHT: Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts, a member of MLB's exec council, on Tuesday night said he had "no comment" on Rosenthal's report (CSNCHICAGO.com, 11/22). In N.Y., John Harper notes the report was "met with considerable skepticism among baseball people on Tuesday night." One source said, "There’s so much money in the game now for everyone involved that it would be unbelievably short-sighted to let something like that happen. I don’t think there are any issues that warrant such drastic action, and I believe this is really just a negotiating tactic as the deadline is nearing.” Harper notes Manfred for months "has expressed confidence publicly that a new deal would get done" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/23). MLB.com's Richard Justice asked, "At a time when the sport has never been healthier, are these issues worth a work stoppage?" The next few days will have "each side testing the other and figuring out what can be achieved" (MLB.com, 11/22).
IN A GOLDEN AGE: Red Sox Chair Tom Werner during an appearance on CNBC called '16 a "fantastic year for baseball" and said this is "in some ways the Golden Age of baseball." Werner: "This is our 14th year of consecutive attendance growth, I think it's about a $10 billion industry nationwide." He also called the new jersey deal with Under Armour that goes into effect in '20 "transformational." Werner: "What we have to do is create more national stars, and I think our relationship with Under Armour is going to do that. There are great stars coming up in baseball -- Mike Trout, Bryce Harper. They have the foundation to be great talents" ("Squawk Box," CNBC, 11/22).
