There's 'a path to a deal' in MLB's labor negotiations

Despite growing concerns over a potential lockout surfacing on Tuesday, recent negotiations have established “a path to a deal,” according to ESPN’s Jayson Stark

In a report filed Wednesday, Stark notes that Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association have been struggling to untangle several major issues, which he notes to include the international draft, the elimination of draft-pick compensation for teams that sign free agents and a new luxury tax/revenue-sharing formula. However, two of his sources connected to the owners and the players’ union have expressed optimism that an agreement can be reached before the current collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1.

Sources from both sides told ESPN.com they believed that threat of a lockout represented a “hard deadline” to make a deal, rather than just a soft deadline that could be easily extended. Although a December lockout wouldn’t result in lost games, it essentially would place all typical offseason activity in a deep freeze, as well as cut off funding of benefits to players.

A lockout also could harden positions on both sides, and could cast a pall over a sport that was hoping to capitalize on the momentum of an epic postseason that produced the highest World Series ratings in a decade and a half. As the pressure to avoid that lockout mounted this week, the two sides appear to have reached what one source described as “that moment of truth, when people realize the clock is ticking down and you’ve got to compromise” to unravel the logjam.

Loose translation: There’s a clear understanding of what the issues are, in addition to a real sense of urgency to keep the peace and continue moving forward.

This is another in a handful of promising sentiments that were expressed on Wednesday, which comes less than 24 hours ago after owners appeared to be at least preparing for a lockout.

The most recent article by @jaysonst mirrors comment by one close to MLB negotiations I got late last night pic.twitter.com/RcIeifCO9S

— Maury Brown ???? (@BizballMaury) November 24, 2016

Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported Tuesday that the owners’ desire to implement an international draft had become the biggest obstacle in negotiations. The owners would prefer a draft to eliminate bidding wars and ultimately save money on signing international free agents. The union has countered a draft would create logistical issues that would impact the next generation of international talent.

It’s a complex issue that has worldwide ramifications. But it appears the two sides bridged significant gaps in meetings that extended late into the night on Tuesday.

This is likely the last update we’ll have on negotiations through the weekend. Negotiators have taken a break for the Thanksgiving holiday, but are expected to resume talking either Sunday or Monday in Dallas.