Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, commenting after the owners’ meetings in Chicago had concluded Thursday, seemed to suggest that the owners would lock out the players if there is no labor agreement reached by 10:59 p.m., St. Louis time, on Dec. 1.
But, in the next 10 days, the Cardinals plan to operate in business-as-usual fashion.
John Mozeliak, the team’s president of baseball operations, said his quest for talent to improve his club — whether by free agency or trade — would not be affected by the unknown or by the fact that the Thanksgiving holiday comes halfway through this week.