Labor Issues Headline Agenda At MLB Owners' Quarterly Meeting

MLB owners today will begin a two-day quarterly owners meeting in Coral Gables, Fla., focused heavily on labor negotiations with the MLBPA that will soon intensify. The current five-year labor accord expires after the '16 season, and this will be the last owners meeting before the start of the season. Among the key issues on the table in the upcoming labor talks are rules regarding how teams acquire amateur talent, including the draft and international free agency, plus player eligibility for arbitration and free agency and accrual of service time.

Owners also will receive a briefing on yesterday’s last-minute proposed settlement in the Garber v. MLB lawsuit regarding club media territories and blackouts, as well as review the video instant replay system and discuss a variety of on-field rules changes.