Fehr Advises Waiting

Donald Fehr, executive director of the Major League Players Association, told agents and representatives meeting to wait until at least Jan. 16 to sign players under the new salary cap system implemented by owners.

“I’m not sure right now if we are going to advise agents to sign under this system at all,” Fehr said. “The input we receive from players and agents during this trip could have a major bearing on what we do.”

The Chicago meetings, including one Friday with 86 players, are the first on a seven-city update tour by Fehr.

At Grapevine, Texas, union head Richie Phillips briefed 60 major-league umpires on negotiations with baseball owners, who cut off paychecks when their contract expired on Jan. 1.