Through a spokesman, Chris Carden, the commissioner declined to comment.

The commissioner declined to discuss the case.

The commissioners declined to comment on their decision until it is published next week.

The commissioner declined to get into a debate about whether the two sides had an agreement or the league had simply made a proposal.

Howe had previously been suspended from baseball for drug use, but the commissioner has so far declined to comment on the case.

The commissioner declined to be interviewed for this article, but he acknowledged last month that the new starting salary was a "major recruiting challenge."

The commissioners declined to comment about the hearings today.

A spokeswoman in Mr. Chapin's office said the commissioner declined to comment.

But at their October meeting, less than a month before the election, the commissioners declined to discuss it.

Yet in June, independent commissioners declined resource consent.