Even as the clock ticked down toward the midnight expiration of Major League Baseballs labor agreement and a potential work stoppage, MLB had yet to schedule a lockout vote by owners, sources told ESPN late Wednesday afternoon.While that was viewed by people around the sport as another hopeful sign of progress toward a new labor deal, sources said owners have been told by MLB to be on alert Wednesday night, in case theres a need for an emergency vote either to ratify an agreement or to lock out the players if negotiations collapse.Meanwhile, the two sides continued to talk and, by Wednesday afternoon, had been negotiating almost continuously for more than 24 hours, on little or no sleep. Multiple sources continue to report they have made significant progress, but had yet to reach agreement on what appeared to be the last remaining major issue of disagreement: how a revised competitive balance tax (a.k.a., luxury tax) would function.Sources said the two sides have discussed significant changes to the tax, which has been assessed for more than a decade on teams that go over a negotiated payroll threshold. However, the players have balked at proposals they viewed as acting like a de facto salary cap by imposing penalties so stiff on big spenders that no team would opt to exceed the threshold.USA Today reported Tuesday that owners wanted to keep the threshold at $189 million in the first year of the agreement, which would mark the fourth consecutive season at that figure. Under the owners proposal, the threshold then would increase incrementally in future years.Players have asked for an immediate increase that reflects the sports steep rise in revenues over the last several years. The sides also have differed on tax rates, and potential other penalties, for teams that exceed the threshold several years in a row or exceed it by many millions of dollars.However, if the sides can reach agreement on how the tax would work, its believed that a number of other changes would then fall into place. Other provisions of the new agreement would be expected to include:Teams that sign a premium free agent would no longer have to give up a draft pick to the team that lost that player. It is expected that teams losing those players still would receive a pick, however.Although owners pushed for months to include international players in the amateur draft, they dropped that demand this week, sources said. In its place, teams would work under a revised system of bonus pools that are expected to place hard limits on how much each club can spend to sign foreign-born players.Roster size would increase from 25 players to 26 through the end of August, then would jump to either 28 or 29 players from Sept. 1 on, instead of the current 40.The sides have talked about starting future seasons four or five days earlier than in the past as a means to give teams more days off during the regular season. The sides also have discussed scheduling more day games when teams face long flights following those games.There would be changes to baseballs revenue-sharing formula which would affect both payers and recipients. Details of those changes remain unknown.The sides have discussed numerous changes to the June amateur draft. Those changes could include everything from a revamped slotting system to trading picks. Details have yet to emerge.It is expected that tougher penalties would be imposed on players who violate baseballs joint drug agreement. A number of players have spoken publicly about the need for longer suspensions for those who test positive for performance-enhancing drugs.Changes also are likely in baseballs domestic-violence policy. Details have yet to emerge.The sides have discussed the possibility of playing games outside North America during the regular season in future seasons. It isnt known yet exactly where those games would be scheduled, but commissioner Rob Manfred has said publicly he would like to see regular-season games played in London.The agreement also would address numerous other issues, from service-time rules to expansion, from replay to pace of game, from meal money to ways to discourage tanking. However, it might be as much as several weeks until all of those changes will be known publicly. Cheap NCAA Jerseys From China .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. Stitched NCAA Jerseys .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. http://www.cheapncaajerseys.net/ . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Cheap Basketball NCAA Jerseys . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. NCAA Jerseys Free Shipping . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. BOSTON -- Rick Porcello certainly feels at home.Porcello pitched seven strong innings to remain unbeaten at Fenway Park this season, Xander Bogaerts homered and the Boston Red Sox sent the Tampa Bay Rays to their fifth straight loss, 4-1 on Saturday.Absolutely, coming a here and pitching here now, I feel a lot more comfortable, said the right-hander after raising his record to 8-0 in nine Fenway starts.On a day the Red Sox learned they lost closer Craig Kimbrel with a left knee injury for likely three to six weeks, they won for the fifth time in six games.After being acquired from Detroit in a trade during the offseason before 2015, the 27-year-old took a while to start feeling relaxed in Fenway.Last year, he was expected to be an ace for the staff but he lost six of his first 11 starts at home and ended the season just 9-15 overall with a 4.92 ERA.More than anything, we look back to a year and half that hes been here, probably getting in his surroundings, Red Sox manager John Farrell said. The first time that he had been away from the Tigers after six full years in the big leagues there.Dustin Pedroia added a two-run single for Boston, which looks for a sweep of the three-game series Sunday when former Rays ace David Price is scheduled to pitch.Brad Miller hit a solo homer for the Rays, who have dropped 21 of 24.Porcello (11-2) allowed a run on six hits, striking out five and not walking anyone.Koji Uehara worked the ninth for his fourth save, second in two days.Matt Moore (5-6) gave up four runs, two of them unearned, in six innings. He held the Red Sox scoreless on three hits over seven innings in his last start against them, at home on June 29.We know what were capable of doing, Moore said. Regardless of what just happened the last month, that sounds like a victim attitude. I dont think anybody in here is going to admit to that -- I know I wont.Bogaerts two-run homer completely left Fenway over the Grreen Monster seats and made it 2-1 in the fourth.dddddddddddd Pedroias single came an inning later.There were a couple of misfires in there that you could tell -- the pitch to Bogaerts, Rays manager Kevin Cash said. But, overall, I thought he did a nice job of kind of balancing.Millers drive gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead in the first. He has three career hits against Porcello, all solo homers.The Red Sox replaced Kimbrel quickly, acquiring Diamondbacks closer Brad Ziegler early Saturday. Hes expected to be with the team Sunday.Kimbrel tore his medial meniscus shagging balls in the outfield Friday and is scheduled for surgery Monday.HONOREEThe 100-year-old daughter of Babe Ruth -- Julia Ruth Stevens -- tossed out the ceremonial first pitch. She turned 100 on Thursday.FALLINGThe Rays (34-53) dropped 19 games under .500 for the first time since the end of 2007.ROOM FOR NEW GUYTo make room for Ziegler, Boston placed RHP Sean OSullivan on the 15-day DL with left knee tendinitis.TRAINERS ROOMRays: CF Kevin Kiermaier (fractured left hand) worked out pregame. Cash said hell likely start a rehab assignment Monday and they hope to have him in the lineup Friday.Red Sox: Farrell said Brock Holt, who left Fridays game with a sprained left ankle, isnt likely to play Sunday, but the team hopes to have him back Friday. . Farrell also said 1B Hanley Ramirez was sore. Ramirez was out of the lineup after fouling a ball off his left shin twice in the last few days.UP NEXTRays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (3-4, 4.33 ERA) is set to start the series finale on Sunday. Hes looking to rebound from a rough start Tuesday when he gave up a season-high seven runs.Red Sox: Price (8-6, 4.64) looks to snap a personal two-game losing streak. The lefty lost to his former team on June 29, giving up four runs in 6 1/3 innings. ' ' '