NEW YORK - An arbitrator's decision on whether baseball owners could fold franchises may be known as early as today, according to a management lawyer, but a top union official thought it might be delayed again.

        Rob Manfred, baseball's top labor lawyer, said he thought arbitrator Shyam Das' contraction decision was imminent. Das originally said he would try to rule by July 15, then asked for a delay until Aug. 1.

        But Gene Orza, second in command of the players' association, said he wasn't sure when Das would rule.

        “My sense is that in an absence of a call from the arbitrator today, the decision will not be issued tomorrow,” Orza said. “He was told to use his best efforts to issue a decision on or about Aug.1. He isn't duty bound by it.”

        Players filed a grievance, claiming the Nov.6 decision by owners to fold two franchises - later identified by management lawyers as Montreal and Minnesota - violated the rules of the previous labor contract, which remains in force.

        Owners said they had the right to shut down teams and needed to bargain with players only on the effects of contraction, such as a dispersal draft.

        Negotiators for players and owners met for about an hour Wednesday to discuss benefits and minimum salaries, and both sides said they were close to agreements on those topics.

        Players and owners remain far apart on the key issues of revenue sharing and a luxury tax, but they are making slow progress during negotiations in recent weeks. That is a sharp contrast from 1994, when the sides didn't hold any substantive negotiations until three months after the player strike started Aug.12.

        The players' executive board could set a strike date as soon as next week, after union head Donald Fehr completes his round of meetings with players throughout the major leagues. He met Wednesday with the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers; the Chicago Cubs are on his schedule for today. After that, only one team is left - Boston.

        “We hope we don't have to set a date. It has not yet been considered by the board,” Fehr said. “The greatest hope is that it gets settled before we get to that point.”

        Players seem reluctant to establish a deadline, but the union is convinced that without a deal, owners would lock them out or change work rules after the postseason. Players prefer to have a work stoppage now than during the offseason and spring - when it would hurt owners less. The union has considered dates from mid-August to mid-September for a walkout.

        “The main thing is we have to avoid setting a date and get everything settled,” the Rangers' Todd Van Poppel said.

Dodgers 11, Reds 5 Reds Box, Runs Rare Wagner card found - maybe White activated; Reitsma sent down Getting Kearns out is almost a no-no Reds Notebook: Chen's confidence up Beltre leads Dodgers out of homer slump Marlins 8, Cardinals 5 Mariners 5, Tigers 2 Red Sox 2, Angels 1 Contenders tweak rosters at deadline Arbitrator could OK contraction Louisville 6, Indianapolis 3

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