How a new Collective Bargaining Agreement could affect the Orioles

Orioles beat writers Eduardo Encina and Jon Meoli talks about the Orioles decision to offer tender contracts to players like utility man Ryan Flaherty, long reliever T.J. McFarland and swingman Vance Worley. (Baltimore Sun video)

In the weeks leading up to tonight’s midnight deadline for Major League Baseball’s owners and the players union to reach an agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, all signs pointed to a clean negotiation and no indication of any work stoppage leading into the 2017 season.

But in recent days, three key issues rose to the forefront, and while – as of Wednesday morning – it appears that negotiations have progressed to the point that next week’s winter…