Baseball

Negotiators for baseball major and minor leagues appeared to move closer to an agreement that would end their dispute over finances and control. Bill Murray, director of baseball operations for the commissioner’s office, and Mike Moore, secretary and chief administrative officer for the National Assn., baseball’s minor league network, met for five hours and said progress had been made.

Moore said the two sides were still separated in four major areas--term of the agreement, number of games, money and the commissioner’s role in the operation of the minor league teams. He said only one year separated them on term. The majors want a three-year agreement that could be reopened after two years. The National Assn. proposed a longer term with a reopener after two years. “We don’t feel two years is adequate, “ Moore said. “It doesn’t provide a clear picture of how teams are doing. We felt three years gives a better picture.”

The majors have requested 136-game schedules at all levels. The minors want 144 at triple A, 142 at double A and 140 at single A, arguing that the extra games would generate needed revenue.

“So we’re between four and eight games apart on that,” Moore said.