Minor league umpires and management reach tentative agreement

By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Striking minor league umpires reached a tentative agreement with management on a six-year contract and could be back at work next week if the deal is ratified.

The agreement was made late Thursday night following two days of talks in Cincinnati with a federal mediator. The Association of Minor League Umpires has been on strike since the start of the minor league season on April 6.

"Federal mediator Lou Manchise made a recommendation that proved acceptable to both sides," management lawyer George Yund said Friday. "The AMLU committee agreed to unanimously recommended the deal for a membership ratification vote, the results of which should be known on Monday."

Yund said if the deal is ratified, the regular umps would return no later than May 8.

Talks broke off Jan. 31 after management made what it called its final offer, and they did not resume until Wednesday.

Union lawyer Robert Weaver confirmed the agreement had been reached.

The deal came two days after Tampa Bay prospect Delmon Young threw a bat that hit a replacement umpire in the chest after being called out on strikes in a Triple-A game. Young, who flung hit bat end over end, said he did not intend to hit the umpire. He apologized Thursday after the International League suspended him indefinitely.