A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that the players’ association will submit union authorization cards to an arbitrator on Wednesday under an agreement with Major League Baseball that will lead to collective bargaining for approximately 5,500 farmhands.

Major League Baseball is ready to voluntarily accept the formation of a minor league union, a key step that will lead to collective bargaining and possibly a strike threat at the start of next season.

The Major League Baseball Players Association is asking MLB management to voluntarily accept the union as the bargaining agent for minor leaguers.

The Detroit Tigers are having some trouble with the starting rotation at the major league level, but in the minors, many of their top prospects are off to strong starts this season.

Rachel Balkovec was a winner as the first woman to manage a minor league affiliate of a Major League Baseball team.