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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Baseball Owners May Not Vote On New Contract

Associated Press

Proponents of baseball’s labor deal were hopeful it would be approved at today’s owners meeting in Chicago, but most management officials weren’t even sure if there would be another vote.

Ratification of the five-year contract would mean the start of revenue sharing; a luxury tax on as many as five high-payroll teams in the next three seasons; and free agency for Alex Fernandez, Moises Alou, Jimmy Key and up to 11 others.

It was unclear Monday if acting commissioner Bud Selig would ask owners to ratify the proposal, which fell 11 votes short of approval when the group last met three weeks ago. But several sources on both sides were much more upbeat about the prospects for passage this time.

“Chances are, somebody will move to reconsider,” said Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who opposes the deal but angered many general managers when he signed Albert Belle last week to a record $55 million, five-year deal.

“Normally, anyone on the winning side can move to reconsider,” Reinsdorf said. “But with a secret vote, how do you know who voted in favor? But if somebody moves for a vote, I don’t think anybody’s going to stand in the way.”

Atlanta Braves president Stan Kasten, a member of the owners’ labor policy committee, said he wasn’t sure whether there would be a vote. Kasten, Reinsdorf and several other management officials said they hadn’t heard much discussion the past few days.

“A lot of people may vote the way Buddy tells them to vote,” Reinsdorf said. “My opinion is I think he’ll take a position. I don’t know what position he’s going to take, but I’m sure it will attract a lot of votes. There’s no question, in my opinion, that there are a lot of people who instead of thinking for themselves will do what Buddy says.”

Selig, however, isn’t telling anyone what he thinks, according to management officials.

Owners who oppose the proposed deal think it would do little to restrain payroll growth because there would not be a luxury tax in 2000 and 2001. And some large-market teams may oppose it to avoid revenuesharing payments, which could total up to $6 million for some teams in both 1996 and ‘97.

A three-quarters majority - 23 of the 30 teams - is required to approve the deal management negotiator Randy Levine and union head Donald Fehr completed Oct. 24.

When owners rejected the deal Nov. 6, they asked the union to make two major changes: remove the restriction limiting a luxury tax to five teams per season, and eliminate the union’s option to extend the deal through 2001.

Selig presented those demands the following week, but the union immediately rejected them. There has been no substantive contact between Fehr and Selig since then.

Even if the proposal is accepted, there would have to be changes. Jesse Orosco and John Patterson, who would have become free agents under the new rules, have already resigned. Key and Mark McLemore were prevented from becoming free agents when they were offered salary arbitration. Under the new contract, they would have the right to be free because the restriction on repeat free agency in a five-year span would be eliminated.

The proposed deal also calls for a reduction in the players’ share of money from the first three games of each division series - from 80 percent to 60. However, checks from this year’s postseason were mailed to players Monday under the old formula.