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BOSTON (AP) — It’s not collusion Hisashi Iwakuma Jersey , it’s a “distributional problem” that has shut dozens of baseball players out of the free agent market this offseason, commissioner Rob Manfred said on Wednesday.Speaking to a group of Boston business executives, Manfred said the percentage of revenue going to the players hasn’t changed in the past 15 years or so. If players are unhappy about how it’s being spent, Manfred said, he’s happy to talk to them about solutions.“The money that’s going for them in aggregate is the same,” he said at a meeting of the Boston College Chief Executives Club. “It may be that you (players) think some guys are getting too much, some guys are getting too little. You’d like to create additional opportunities. It’s up to you to explain to us what you’re looking for in terms of distribution of those dollars.”After years of growth, the total amount spent on player payroll dropped last year for the first time since 2010 and only the second time since 2002. What’s bothered the players, though, has been the slow market for free agents like Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.The lack of a bidding war for two of the game’s stars left them waiting until after the start of spring training for other offers. A couple of dozen other free agents remain unsigned Ken Griffey Jersey , and some players and agents accused owners of colluding to keep salaries down.But Manfred preferred to look at the result: 10 years and $300 million for Machado, and 13 years and $330 million for Harper.“In case you missed it, we did spend 600 million bucks — 630 to be exact — on two players last week. Set some new records,” Manfred said in an on-stage conversation with Red Sox president Sam Kennedy. “Players are still getting these mega-contracts.”Manfred said he would be willing to discuss changes now, even though the collective bargaining agreement doesn’t expire until after the 2021 season.“But (players) have to identify for us what it is that you see as the problem in the system,” he said.Manfred’s comments came as owners and players neared an agreement to allow teams to carry an extra player for most of the season starting in 2020 and for other changes to the way rosters are managed. The deal would include a limit on September call-ups — lowering the maximum roster size from 40 players to 28 — and on the number of pitchers would be designed to end the parade of relievers that can cause games to run long. Baseball also agreed not pursue a pitch clock through the 2021 season.People familiar with the negotiations discussed details of the agreement with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not yet been finalized.“Baseball, like every other institution, has to thoughtfully approach change to address concerns that fans raise,” Manfred said. “One of the things that our research tells us is that the length of the games is an issue and one of the causes of that is relief pitching changes. And I think we have to be open to thinking about changes in that area.”Players have proposed changes such as expanding the designated hitter to the National League and altering the amateur draft to discourage teams from tanking in order to improve their draft position.“It’s always important to make small deals that allow you to address bigger issues,” Manfred said. “And we’re working hard to do that.”Baseball announced in December a new deal that would allow Cuban players to sign major league contracts without defecting. The agreement came despite President Donald Trump’s pledge to undo President Barack Obama’s 2014 decision expand U.S-Cuba relations.Manfred said the previous administration was more consistent to deal with.“It has been more challenging in terms of working with the Trump administration http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-edgar-martinez-jersey ,” Manfred said. “We’ve worked with them already on several projects. It’s been a little difficult but generally positive as well.” LOS ANGELES — Two victories away from a championship, the challenge will only increase for a Boston Red Sox club intent on bringing the franchise its fourth World Series title since 2004.The Red Sox had little resistance in building a 2-0 series lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers, but now have to face the best lineup their opponent has to offer and in a hostile environment at that.Winning in the road has not been much of an issue for the Red Sox in this postseason. They have won all five playoff games they have played away from Fenway Park, clinching the American League Division Series at New York and celebrating an American League title at Houston.Article continues below ...The Dodgers, though, intend to put up as much resistance as possible in Game 3 with their left-handed power lineup against expected right-handed starter Rick Porcello. Both teams started left-handers in the first two games.The change would mean starts for Dodgers lefty power hitters like Max Muncy, Joc Pederson and Cody Bellinger, although manager Dave Roberts sent out some mixed signals after Wednesday’s Game 2 defeat.When asked about his Game 3 lineup, Roberts had compliments for right-handed hitters like Brian Dozier, David Freese http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-edgar-martinez-jersey , players who typically do not start against righties.“But we’re going to shuffle it up for Game 3, (and) it’s not because of necessarily performance, it’s kind of who the starting pitcher for those guys is,” Roberts said. “But these are the guys that got us here, and we’re going to ride them out.”The Red Sox do not figure to be in as much lineup flux, although there remains an outside chance that Mookie Betts could move from the outfield to second base in order to get regular designated hitter J.D. Martinez into the lineup as an outfielder.Boston will face Dodgers rookie right-hander Walker Buehler, and Boston figures to be more concerned with maintaining its approach than switching up personnel.“We’re not up there trying to hit everything in the air and swinging for the fences,” said Martinez, whose two-run single in the fifth inning Wednesday put the Red Sox up for good. “We go up there and the pitch dictates what we’re going to do. We’re not up there forcing balls in the air. I feel like it’s the common mistake with hitters these days.”Thursday’s travel day gives the Red Sox’s formidable bullpen a chance to rest and recharge itself. The Dodgers were hitless against Joe Kelly, Nathan Eovaldi and Craig Kimbrell in Game 2. They had just one run on three hits over five innings against the Boston bullpen in Game 1.The Dodgers’ bullpen Nelson Cruz Jersey , meanwhile, figures to need more than a day off and a move to a warmer climate. A shift in strategy likely is ahead after right-hander Ryan Madson allowed all five of his inherited runners to score in the first two games.Buehler, who has never faced the Red Sox, gave up a combined nine runs in his first two playoff outings, both Dodgers defeats. But he rebounded with a strong 4 2/3 innings in the Dodgers’ Game 7 victory in the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.Porcello has just two career starts against the Dodgers and none since 2011. Two of his four appearances in this postseason were starts, as he gave up one run in five innings to the Yankees in the ALDS and four runs over four innings to the Astros in the ALCS. The Red Sox won both games.