MLB and the MLBPA are "making significant progress toward a five-year extension to the collective bargaining agreement that could lead to a resolution during the World Series," according to sources cited by Joe Strauss of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. While "no deal is likely before the Series moves to Texas this weekend, there is reason to believe a deal could be struck before the end of the Series and certainly before free agency opens Nov. 11." MLBPA Exec Dir Michael Weiner "declined to say where the talks stand, but a source with knowledge of the matter confirmed that the two sides are meeting daily to discuss the 'nuts and bolts' of an extension." The union's negotiating team "includes a group of players in addition to union attorneys." Weiner "termed it 'a fair statement' that no one issue represents a massive stumbling block but added that 'there are a lot of issues' that require finalization." Strauss notes testing for HGH and the "desire by management to institute hard slotting in the first-year player draft represent core issues in these talks" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 10/20).
BACK FOR MORE: MLB said yesterday it will bring back its Fan Cave for a second season in '12. Developed this year as a means to more closely align the sport with social media and popular culture and develop fandom among younger consumers, the effort was a runaway success by many measures. More than 100 million social media impressions were generated, and the Fan Cave generated more than 150,000 combined Facebook fans and Twitter followers for MLB. The specific format and location for next year's Fan Cave are not yet known, and it is not a given that MLB will return to the lower Manhattan location used this year. Such decisions will be a significant offseason focus for the league (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal).
