The striking major-league players expressed surprising optimism Wednesday that a solution is in sight that would end the four-month baseball shutdown.
In discussing a new counterproposal that will be presented to the owners, Kansas City Royals pitcher David Cone said, “It has been painful for us, but we have taken a giant leap forward.”
“You guys are going to be surprised,” Milwaukee third baseman Kevin Seitzer told reporters.
What the surprise will be, neither union chief Don Fehr nor any of his players would reveal, but it was obvious the players are confident their proposal, if not immediately acceptable, will prompt serious negotiations when bargaining resumes Saturday morning in Rye Brook, N.Y.
The mood here Wednesday at the conclusion of the players’ three-day meeting was definitely upbeat.
“We’re fired up,” said Seitzer. “We definitely realize there have to be adjustments in the system.”
Cone, like Seitzer a member of the union’s negotiating committee, was asked if the proposal includes any “give-backs.”
“No doubt about it. This proposal addresses a lot of the owners’ concerns, a lot of their problems. We know this isn’t the time to make a proposal that will get shot down. We’ve come a long way.”
Fehr, who usually expresses caution, was also optimistic: “We will be offering new and different concepts, things that have not been discussed. It represents a reaching-out by the players, not only to end this dispute but so that in the future we won’t be plagued by a shutdown every time our collective contract expires.”
Fehr also described it as a “forward-looking vehicle. Our object is to find a way to reach a settlement that meshes with their (the owners’) desires.” He added that the proposal would not include “a salary cap of any kind.”
A person inside the meeting, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the players’ proposal would give them a say on major management decisions. They’d have input on the hiring of a commissioner and other industry issues such as national TV contracts and international play. But the owners are not likely to go along with such a request.
“Those are some things that have been talked about, but I really have no comment,” acting commissioner Bud Selig said from his home in Milwaukee. “I guess I’ll see it Saturday.”
In a statement, Fehr said: “It is safe to say the players and the staff are very satisfied. If it doesn’t work, we’ll have done the best we can.”
When negotiations broke down last Wednesday in Leesburg, Va., the owners agreed to give the players 10 additional days to present a counterproposal before declaring an impasse and implementing their proposals.
Whether management will consider this new effort a significant movement in the stalemated negotiations is not known. The owners rejected the players’ recommendation of a “luxury tax” within hours after presentation.
The players previously had suggested a 1.6 percent penalty against the clubs that exceeded the $35 million average team player payroll. The owners have since countered with a tax that in some cases would exceed 100 percent. Management is not expected to consider anything less than 50 percent.
Atlanta pitcher Tom Glavine said the players’ proposal did not deal with the owners’ request for team salary caps but indicated the players may be willing to increase the percentage on the luxury tax.
Los Angeles pitcher Orel Hershiser, while refusing to disclose any details, acknowledged the proposal provided an opportunity for partnership. “The owners were the first ones to bring up the word partnership. We agree. We think of a partnership as allowing us to have a say in a lot of areas.”
The scene now moves to Rye Brook, where negotiations could continue until Tuesday. A full ownership meeting is set for next Thursday in Chicago. If satisfied that progress has been made, the owners may delay implementation of their proposals for at least another week and possibly longer.
