The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Owners, players ratify labor deal
Baseball owners and players have ratified the sport’s new five-year collective bargaining agreement, extending their labor peace to 26 years through 2021.
The sides announced their approvals Wednesday, a day after holding votes in separate telephone meetings.
“This agreement allows us to build on the positive momentum from last season and promote a generation of young players,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said.
After eight work stoppages from 1972-95, the sides have negotiated deals without a strike or lockout in 2002, 2006, 2011 and this year. The new deal expires Dec. 1, 2021.
Teams voted 29-1 to approve, with the Tampa Bay Rays alone in opposing.
The agreement also bans certain forms of rookie hazing and bullying that primarily involved cross-dressing, and some players, particularly Angels pitcher Huston Street, are angry to lose this rite of passage.
“I find it far more unfortunate that we twist truths to fit a narrative,” he said. “Rest assured some other ritual will rise, will be kept far more secret and hopefully it’s as safe and harmless as uncomfortable clothes.”
■ Cubs: Right-handed reliever Koji Uehara, 41, agreed to a $6 million, oneyear contract.
■ White Sox: Left-hander Derek Holland agreed to a $6 million, one-year contract. The left-hander, 30, was 62-50 with a 4.35 ERA in eight seasons with Texas. Holland, who had a $10 million salary this year, missed two months because of inflam- mation in his left shoulder and finished 7-9 with a 4.95 ERA in 22 games.
■ Orioles: Free-agent catcher Welington Castillo reached a contract agreement, pending a medical review. Castillo, 29, hit .264 with 14 homers and 68 RBIs in 111 games with Arizona last season.
■ Phillies: Infielder Andres Blanco agreed to a $3 million, one-year contract to stay in Philadelphia. Blanco, 32, led the Phillies with 15 pinch-hits the past two seasons.
The Arizona Cardinals released wide receiver Michael Floyd on Wednesday, two days after he was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and failure to obey a police officer.
Floyd was taken into custody after being found unconscious behind the wheel of his running vehicle at an intersection in suburban Scottsdale early Monday. He was booked and released from the Scottsdale jail later that morning.
Floyd, a first-round pick by the Cardinals in 2012, had 33 catches for 446 yards and four touchdowns this season. Those were well off his 2015 stats, when he overcame early injuries to catch 52 passes for 849 yards.
Vikings: Adrian Peterson was back on the practice field the first time in nearly three months. The star running back’s rehab of a torn meniscus in his right knee is nearly complete, allowing him to rejoin his teammates at practice as he ramps up for a highly anticipated return.
Wearing a brace on his knee, Peterson took handoffs, ran routes and went through some agility drills during the portion of practice that was open to media. Peterson said earlier this week that he is targeting the Dec. 24 game in Green Bay for his return.
Packers: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will miss practice this week to focus on rehabbing his leg injuries, coach Mike McCarthy said, but signs point to Rodgers still being ready to play Sunday in Chicago. Rodgers hurt his left hamstring a few weeks ago against the Eagles and his right calf early in Sunday’s game against the Seahawks.
Falcons: Coach Dan Quinn updated star receiver Julio Jones’ injury as a sprained toe instead of turf toe, putting a more optimistic outlook on his return. Jones missed Wednesday’s practice after being held out of last week’s 42-14 win over the Rams and his status for Sunday’s game against San Francisco remains uncertain.
Colts: Quarterback Andrew Luck said he expects to play Sunday against Minnesota after missing Wednesday’s practice with a sore
Los Angeles 4-9; Seattle 8-4-1 NBC, NFL
Seahawks will clinch third NFC West title in past four seasons with victory . ... First game for Rams since firing Jeff Fisher as coach. Special teams coach John Fassel serving as interim head coach. Fassel is son of former NFL coach Jim Fassel . ... Rams have won three straight in series, including 2317 win in Seattle last season . ... QB Jared Goff making third career road start. He is winless in first four career starts . ... RB Todd Gurley averaging just 3.3 yards per carry . ... Seahawks NFL’s only unbeaten team at home ... Seahawks’ loss Sunday to Packers was worst since 2011. First time Seahawks lost by more than 10 points since Russell Wilson became QB . ... Seahawks averaging 163.4 yards rushing in past four weeks. — AP throwing shoulder and a sore right elbow. Luck acknowledged he was injured during Sunday’s loss to the Texans and he deferred to team doctors and trainers in skipping practice.
Lions: Quarterback Matthew Stafford wore a glove on his right throwing hand that covered only his injured middle finger during practice. Stafford hurt his finger in the first quarter of Sunday’s win over Chicago, playing through the injury with a glove covering his entire right hand.
Giants: Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said he’s been bothered by a thumb injury for weeks that hurts when he catches the ball the wrong way. Beckham had several drops in Sunday night’s win over Dallas.
Jets: Running back Matt Forte missed practice with an injured right knee and will likely be a game-time decision against Miami on Saturday night.
Eagles: Offensive lineman Brandon Brooks said an anxiety condition is the reason he missed two of the past three games. The 27-yearold right guard said he originally thought his condition was a stomach disorder. He’s now taking medication and seeing a counselor.
Bears: Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery returned to practice after serving his four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.
NFL meetings: Commissioner Roger Goodell isn’t saying whether he’s optimistic San Diego and Oakland can keep their teams, while Indianapolis owner Jim Irsay considers both franchises all but gone.
Owners Dean Spanos of the Chargers and the Raiders’ Mark Davis weren’t talking at the NFL meetings Wednesday in the Dallas area.
Goodell said the league has “not made great progress in Oakland and San Diego,” while Irsay said there’s “no reason for optimism in either market.” John Wall and Bradley Beal combined for 19 of their 45 points in the third quarter, Washington’s highest-scoring period of the season, as the Wizards handed Charlotte its third straight loss. Hassan Whiteside had 26 points and 22 rebounds, and reserve Tyler Johnson scored 15 points for Miami, which won consecutive home games for the first time this season. The Heat outrebounded Indiana 58-38. DeMar DeRozan scored 31 points — all in the first three quarters — and Kyle Lowry added 20 to help Toronto to its fourth consecutive victory. Austin Rivers made seven 3-points and scored 25 points in his return from a concussion as Los Angeles won its third straight. Bojan Bogdanovic scored 23 points and Sean Kilpatrick had 22 for Brooklyn, which handed Los Angeles its eighth consecutive loss. Reserve Troy Daniels had 20 points to lead Memphis past Cleveland, which rested LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love as part of its maintenance program for the Big Three. James Harden had a tripledouble — 15 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds — in three quarters in Houston’s eighth straight win. It was Harden’s fifth triple-double this season and 14th of his career. Late Late Late
Coach Luke Walton was fined $15,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for verbally abusing a game official and not leaving the court in a timely manner after an ejection. Walton was called for two technical fouls and ejected with 4:14 remaining in the first quarter in the Lakers’ 116-92 road loss Monday night.