While MLB and the players' association still are discussing whether the expanded playoffs will start in 2012 or 2013, they've reached a consensus that ties for division titles will be broken on the field under the new playoff format, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press.
Since 1995, head-to-head record has been used to determine first place if both teams are going to the postseason. But with the start of a one-game, winner-take-all wild card round, the sides agreed the difference between first place and a wild card berth is too important to decide with a formula, so a tiebreaker game would be played.
Negotiators plan to talk again next week and decide by March 1 on whether the extra round will begin this year.
Under the new format, whenever it begins, the non-division winners in each league with the two-best records will be the wild cards.
Elsewhere
- Right fielder Hunter Pence has agreed to a $10.4 million, one-year contract with the Phillies, avoiding arbitration.
- The San Francisco Giants have reached agreement on a $1.25 million, one-year contract with utility infielder Ryan Theriot, who played for the St. Louis Cardinals last year.
- Free agent infielder Jeff Keppinger has signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.
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