In DC, Barry Svrluga notes people inside MLB, including those who work for clubs and some who represent players, believe the "next three or four years are a monumental time for the sport." A significant number believe the "chances of a strike" at the conclusion of this CBA, which runs through the '21 season, are "very good." Some think it is "inevitable." Some agents and players believe this offseason was "just the start of behavior modification by ownership, that the way free agents were approached this winter changed drastically -- with fewer, and in some cases no, offers and counteroffers exchanged" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/14).
EXTRA PRACTICE: In Tampa, Greg Auman noted the Buccaneers' new indoor practice facility on March 25 "will play host to an NFL pre-draft combine for 100 invited prospects." The league will run the combine, which is "intended for the best draft prospects who weren't among the 336 at the official NFL combine earlier this month in Indianapolis, as well as unsigned players not on current NFL rosters." In past years, the league "has run 'regional combines' across the country for players who weren't invited to Indianapolis" (TAMPABAY.com, 3/13).
BIGGEST LOSER: NBA TV's J.E. Skeets noted "eight or nine teams" could be part of the NBA's "tanking race" over the last month of the season. He added, "There could be some very, very weird games in terms of maneuvering, in terms of who's hurt who's playing, how long are they playing. We've already seen it, it could get even more extreme as we get into the final couple of weeks" ("The Starters," NBA TV, 3/13).
