Baseball Owners Suffer Setback

Baseball owners were crushed again in court when an appeals panel issued a decision that makes it unlikely the sport’s business rules will change this winter.

A three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that the owners’ Player Relations Committee illegally attempted to eliminate free agency, salary arbitration and the anti-collusion provisions of the expired collective bargaining agreement.

Unless they settle the remaining unfair labor practice complaints, owners can’t try to change baseball’s economic rules unless they first get U.S. District Judge Sotomayor’s permission.