MLB officials cautiously optimistic they'll beat deadline for new CBA

Despite the threats of a lockout that could bring Major League Baseball to a standstill, even the staunchest owners believe they will strike a deal with the players' association on a new collective bargaining agreement before the current deal expires on Thursday.

Simply, with Major League Baseball expected to exceed $10 billion in annual revenue, coming off a historic World Series with the greatest TV ratings in 25 years, there’s too much money flowing for anyone to dare stop it, and no rash changes are expected in a new CBA.

There won’t be an international draft, or rash luxury tax penalties, but subtle changes, two baseball officials briefed on the negotiations told USA TODAY Sports.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because talks are ongoing.

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The luxury tax is expected to stay at $189 million in 2017, with incremental raises in the next five years. The minimum salary will rise. Rosters are expected to be increased from 25 to 26, in exchange for dramatically limiting call-ups in September. Tweaks will be made to the free-agent compensation system.

The 162-game schedule will remain the same, but perhaps more off days  - or at least restrictions on night games before traveling - will be built into the schedule beginning in 2018.

While the players' association and MLB owners both hoped to make gains - the former with tweaks to the qualifying offer system, the latter with an international draft - the overriding sentiment is that there's too much at stake for a deal not to be reached this week.

For now, it appears the 2017 landscape - and the winter free-agent and trade market - won't be altered drastically. The incremental bumps in the luxury-tax ceiling may eventually aid some upper-middle class clubs - such as the Los Angeles Angels or Detroit Tigers - whose aversion to paying taxes on payroll beyond $189 million affected their spending.