Baseball owners, GMs see no labor strife on horizon

[Omaha Steve]

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/18/sports/la-sp-1119-baxter-on-baseball-20101119

The winter meetings have largely been conducted with an air of cooperation and consensus on most of the major issues.
November 18, 2010|By Kevin Baxter

Reporting from Orlando — No major U.S. professional sports league has been more troubled or embarrassed by labor strife than baseball. And although it may be too early to declare lasting peace in our time, it certainly looks as if there is peace for the time being.

Preliminary negotiations have already begun on a new collective bargaining agreement, one that will replace the deal between the teams and their players that expires after next season.

Unlike in years past, there are no ominous storm clouds gathering this time. At least that was the feeling coming out of this week's owners' and general managers' meetings, where optimism reigned.

"I can't forecast what's going to happen. But you see a huge difference," Commissioner Bud Selig said Thursday. "Both sides will be very intense and will have things that they want. But when you think about what went on for years … it was unpleasant. And it never got better for 25 years.

"Nobody ever could have dreamed that we'd have 16 years of labor peace."

When the talks turn serious, the union — with the backing of some large-market teams — is likely to seek assurances that revenue-sharing money will be spent on payroll and not diverted elsewhere, which some small-market teams have been caught doing.

There will probably be further tweaking of rules regarding free agency, arbitration eligibility and the minimum wage as well as discussions about instant replay, expanded playoffs, a worldwide draft and a cap on bonuses offered to draft picks.

FULL story at link.

[Drale]

1. I think both the owners and the union realize

if there was a strike again, they would lose so much more than could be gained by either side, so both sides are more will to give and take. The last strike nearly destroyed Major League Baseball, and everyone realizes that if there was another strike, it probably would completely destroy the MLB.