News » hampionship season. Mayfield was a finalist for both the

NEW YORK -- Baseball players and owners had a deal to expand active rosters from 25 to 26 players for most of the season, but the union backed away in the final stages of collective bargaining.As part of the deal, the limit from Sept. 1 on would have been lowered from 40 players to 28.We thought we were going to make an agreement, had a tentative agreement, baseball commissioner Rob Manfred told The Associated Press on Friday, but nothings done until its done.Union head Tony Clark characterized the talks differently and said the parties could revisit the topic during the five-year contract they agreed to Wednesday.I dont know that there was an agreement to do it and that it came apart. There was a lot of dialogue over the course of this round where we were moving in a direction that we inevitably werent able to agree to, he said. It simply got to the point with all of the moving pieces that were part of the conversation during the course of the year that we lived to talk about it another day.Rosters have long expanded for the seasons final full month as minor league affiliates end their campaigns. The roster expansion gives managers the ability to make more frequent pitching changes in an attempt to gain favorable matchups.Some managers and general managers have complained it doesnt make sense to play most of the season under one set of rules and then switch as pennant races heat up. While some teams add many players and a few reach the 40-man limit, others make relatively few call-ups.There were very mixed opinions on the club side, as well, Manfred said. Maybe we were going too far, too fast.Many players make their big league debuts in September, and the union has long been concerned about the loss of service time if the limit were to be lowered from 40.To reduce the roster to 28 people would jeopardize the ability for people to get their feet wet in the big leagues, Oakland catcher Stephen Vogt said in a text. September is a great time for teams to teach the young guys how to act and be in the big leagues and get their feet wet in a comfortable environment.Given the increasing importance of bullpens, some believe a 26th player likely would be an additional relief pitcher.I know there have been a lot of concerns from the other side related to just how it would work and how it might affect the games or the length of games, Clark said. Trying to appreciate that extra player and who it may be is hard to predict based on whatever the organization philosophy is of any one team.Management and the union released details of the deal Friday, an agreement that will extend the sports labor peace to 26 years since the 1994-95 strike -- baseballs eighth work stoppage since 1972.We kept the game on the field, Manfred said. We made an agreement within our current structure which I think shows that we have a durable structure. We moved some things our direction, and we moved some other things their direction.The threshold for the luxury tax, known formally as the competitive balance tax, rises from $189 million this year to $195 million in 2017 to $210 million in the deals final season. There are some rate increases and new surtaxes.The premise of the CBT altogether was a drag at the top to keep teams from running away from the group, Clark said.Manfred added: Theres two dynamics around the threshold: stopping people from running away but also having them low enough that people can aspire to spend a little more to be a little more competitive.Among the new details that emerged:? The penalty for a second stimulant violation goes up from 25 to 50 games and for a third rises from 80 to 100. The penalty for a first violation remains follow-up testing.??Random urine tests will increase from 3,200 to 4,800 in-season and from 350 to 1,550 in the offseason, ensuring at least one offseason test for all 40-man roster players. Random blood testing rises from 260 to 500 in-season and from 140 to 400 in the offseason.? The number of teams disqualified from revenue sharing drops from 15 to 13. A person familiar with the details, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement was made, said Atlanta and Houston were the teams that became eligible.? Major league players may not be traded during the final week of the regular season.??The new All-Star bonus pool for the winning team is $640,000, which calculates to $20,000 per player.??After fan and player voting, the final roster selections in each league (seven in NL and five in AL) will be made by the commissioners office rather than the All-Star managers.??While a team with a payroll $40 million or more above the luxury tax threshold would have its highest draft pick dropped 10 places, the top six selections are protected, and those teams, if penalized, would have their second pick dropped 10 slots.??The commissioner may schedule regular-season games at ballparks other than the regular sites, and players would receive additional compensation.??Players would receive $15,000 to $100,000 each for special events such as games in Mexico, Asia, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and London.??Signing bonuses of $10,000 or less do not count against a teams international signing bonus pool.??Teams will increase their annual pension and medical benefits contribution to about $200 million. Gabriel Landeskog Jersey . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. Ian Cole Avalanche Jersey . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. http://www.hockeyavalanche.com/ . PAUL, Minn. Mark Barberio Avalanche Jersey . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover. Matt Nieto Avalanche Jersey . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. Australian sprinter Josh Clarke has withdrawn from the 100m at the Rio Olympics, having run out of time to return to peak form following a hamstring injury early this year.Clarke, 21, hurt his hamstring tendon in the race in Canberra in February where he bettered the Olympic qualifying standard with a personal best of 10.15 seconds.Although he has recovered from the injury, the Sydneysider and his coach Nancy Atterton decided he was not in the sort of shape to perform at his peak at the Rio Games against the likes of two-time defending champion Usain Bolt.This is devastating for Josh, his coaches and family, said Australian athletics head coach Craig Hilliard.Josh has worked tremendously hard to recover from a hamstring injury he sustained earlier this year, but unfortunately time has not been his friend and in the best interests of his long-term career he has decided to withdraw.This is a courageous decision, he has chosen to look to his future rather than focusing on an immediate outcome which is never easy.Australian Olympic team chef de misssion Kitty Chiller said she would soon reach out to Clark to offer support.ddddddddddddIts a strong and its a brave decision from a young guy with a big future, Chiller told reporters in Rio de Janeiro.Very disappointing for Australia that we wont now have a 100 metre (runner). Australia has not had a representative in the Olympic blue-riband mens sprint since Josh Ross made it through to the quarter-finals at the 2004 Athens Games.But Australia still has an interest in the other three flat sprints in Rio with Alex Hartman entered in the mens 200m and Melissa Breen (100m) and Ella Nelson (200m) qualified in the womens races.Clarkes 100m PB of 10.15 has him ranked fifth on the Australian alltime list headed by the retired Patrick Johnson (9.93).Clarkes withdrawal means Australia will send a 60-strong athletics team to Rio.The track and field squad is currently preparing for the Games at a camp in Bradenton, Florida. ' ' '