NEW YORK -- Baseball players and owners had a deal to expand active rosters from 25 to 26 players for most of the season, but the union backed away in the final stages of collective bargaining.As part of the deal, the limit from Sept. 1 on would have been lowered from 40 to 28.We thought we were going to make an agreement, had a tentative agreement, baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred told The Associated Press on Friday, but nothings done until its done.Union head Tony Clark characterized the talks differently and said the parties may revisit the topic during the five-year contract they agreed to Wednesday.I dont know that there was an agreement to do it and that it came apart. There was a lot of dialogue over the course of this round where we were moving in a direction that we inevitably werent able to agree to, he said. It simply got to the point with all of the moving pieces that were part of the conversation during the course of the year that we lived to talk about it another day.Rosters have long expanded for the seasons final full month as minor league affiliates end their campaigns. The roster expansion gives managers the ability to make more frequent pitching changes in an attempt to gain favorable matchups.Some managers and general managers have complained it doesnt make sense to play most of the season under one set of rules and then switch as pennant races heat up. While some teams add many players and a few reach the 40-man limit, others make relatively few call-ups.There were very mixed opinions on the club side, as well, Manfred said. Maybe we were going too far, too fast.Many players make their big league debuts in September, and the union has long been concerned about the loss of service time if the limit were to be lowered from 40.To reduce the roster to 28 people would jeopardize the ability for people to get their feet wet in the big leagues, Oakland catcher Stephen Vogt said in a text. September is a great time for teams to teach the young guys how to act and be in the big leagues and get their feet wet in a comfortable environment.Given the increasing importance of bullpens, some believe a 26th player likely would be an additional relief pitcher.I know there have been a lot of concerns from the other side related to just how it would work and how it might affect the games or the length of games, Clark said. Trying to appreciate that extra player and who it may be is hard to predict based on whatever the organization philosophy is of any one team.Management and the union released details of the deal Friday, an agreement that will extend the sports labor peace to 26 years since the 1994-95 strike -- baseballs eighth work stoppage since 1972.We kept the game on the field, Manfred said. We made an agreement within our current structure which I think shows that we have a durable structure. We moved some things our direction, and we moved some other things their direction.The threshold for the luxury tax, known formally as the competitive balance tax, rises from $189 million this year to $195 million in 2017 to $210 million in the deals final season. There are some rate increases and new surtaxes.The premise of the CBT altogether was a drag at the top to keep teams from running away from the group, Clark said.Manfred added: Theres two dynamics around the threshold: stopping people from running away but also having them low enough that people can aspire to spend a little more to be a little more competitive.Among the new details that emerged:- The penalty for a second stimulant violation goes up from 25 to 50 games and for a third rises from 80 to 100. The penalty for a first violation remains follow-up testing.- Random urine tests will increase from 3,200 to 4,800 in season and from 350 to 1,550 in the offseason, ensuring at least one offseason test for all 40-man roster players. Random blood test rise from 260 to 500 in season and from 140 to 400 in the offseason.- The number of teams disqualified from revenue sharing drops from 15 to 13. A person familiar with the details, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement was made, said Atlanta and Houston were the teams that became eligible.- The new All-Star bonus pool for the winning team is $640,000, which calculates to $20,000 per player.- After fan and player voting, the final roster selections in each league (seven in NL and five in AL) will be made by the commissioners office rather than the All-Star managers.- Major league players may not be traded during the final week of the regular season.- While a team with a payroll $40 million or more above the luxury tax threshold would have its highest draft pick dropped 10 places, the top six selections are protected and those teams, if penalized, would have their second pick dropped 10 slots.- The commissioner may schedule regular-season games at ballparks other than the regular sites, and players would receive additional compensation.- Players would receive $15,000 to $100,000 each for special events such as games in Mexico, Asia, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and London.- Signing bonuses of $10,000 or less do not count against a teams international signing bonus pool.- Teams will increase their annual pension and medical benefits contribution to about $200 million.---AP Baseball Writer Janie McCauley contributed to this report. 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Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4. Just a month ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers were floundering amid a three-game losing streak, head coach Mike Tomlins job was in jeopardy and there was serious talk about missing the playoffs.But then the Steelers rediscovered LeVeon Bell and the running game, and now Pittsburgh (7-5) is knocking on the postseason door. And all is well with everyone in the Steel City who waves the Terrible Towel.Thats bad news for the Cincinnati Bengals, who need a lot of things to go right if they are going to make the playoffs for the sixth straight season.After going winless in November, Cincinnati (5-7-1) has reeled off two straight victories to have just a minuscule chance at the playoffs.Now the road gets tougher for Cincinnati with Sundays home game against Bell and the Steelers. AFC North rival Baltimore comes to town before the Bengals close out the regular season with a road game at Houston.There are three big weeks left and it will be a challenge, tackle Andrew Whitworth said. Its three really good teams, and so well have an opportunity to really put our will forward. We have a great opportunity with Pittsburgh coming to our place and what should be a big battle.After running roughshod over the Buffalo Bills last week, the Steelers control their own destiny as they took over sole possession of first place in the North.Pittsburgh turned its season around when the coaching staff committed to Bell taking pressure off quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and shouldering the offensive load.Against Buffalo, Bell set a franchise record with 236 rushing yards with an additional 62 receiving yards. He scored three touchdowns.In the past four games that coincided with the Steelers becoming a serious contender again, Bell has averaged nearly 30 carries and 115 rushing yards. Theres nothing more valuable than a workhorse running back in wintry conditions.Its December football, Bell said. We understand everybody is fighting for position. We just want to get the job done. Thats all there is to it.The Steelers control their own fate with games left against AFC North rivals Cincinnati, Baltimore and Cleveland.We are in a good situation right now, but we obviously have to win this game and (get) better, Bell said.During the Steelers four-game losing skid that preceded the winning streak, Bell was the forgotten man. In each of those games, he was held to 81 yards or fewer; in three of those four losses he was held to 60 yards or fewer.I cant say enough about the run game, and when I talk about the run game, its not just LeVeon Bell -- our guys out front did a heck of a job, Tomlin said. Fullback Rosie Nix and our big personnel packages did a really good job of blocking a myriad of fronts because as the game wore on, they threw a lot at us.The Bills challenged Roethlisberger, who struggled in the snow and wind at Orchard Park as he completed just 17 of 31 pass attempts for 220 yards and three interceptions. Roethlissberger will need to be more efficient this week against a Bengals defense that is all too familiar with the Steelers signal-caller.ddddddddddddThe past couple of times the two teams have met, there have been accusations of dirty play as players on both sides have been injured.I hope its not dirty, Roethlisberger said. We expect a physical game. Thats what we want it to be. We expect them to be the same way. We are not going to be a dirty team. We are going to go out and play football and play hard and physical, not retaliate. Just play this game the way its supposed to be played. If there are a lot of nasty things going on, I guess we will know why.Against Cleveland last week, Andy Dalton wasnt at his best -- but he didnt have to be as Cincinnati ran for 213 yards and averaged 5.6 yards per carry. Jeremy Hill ran for 111 yards and a touchdown as the Bengals earned a second consecutive win for the first time this season.And they won both those games without All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Green, who was out with a hamstring injury. Green could return against the Steelers but was listed as doubtful on Fridays injury report. On Wednesday, he took part in practice for the first time in 24 days.Cornerback Adam Jones (ankle) did not take part in Wednesdays practice, but will play Sunday.Dalton has 17 touchdown passes this season. He knows if the Bengals are to stay in the race until the end, he has to be at his best in the last three games. But Dalton is looking ahead -- not behind.We wasted some opportunities early in the year, he said. We cant worry about that. For us, its all about finishing strong.Both defenses are coming off solid performances.Running against the Steelers is going to be a challenge for Hill, despite the Steelers missing Cameron Heyward, their best defensive lineman.During their four-game winning streak, they havent allowed a team to rush for 100 yards. Buffalo was the top rushing team heading into Sunday, but the Bills were held to just 67 yards. Running back LeSean McCoy was held to 27 yards on 12 carries.The Steelers also recorded five sacks and an interception.Cincinnati held the Browns to 10 points and was led by defensive tackle Geno Atkins, who was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after recording two sacks and five tackles.The Cincinnati defense has held its last four opponents to under 15 points per game.Neither Vontaze Burfict nor Bell played in Week 2 when the two teams tangled in Pittsburgh, a 24-16 Steelers win. The Bengals also were without tight end Tyler Eifert.One Bengal who did play, kicker Mike Nugent, was released on Tuesday. Cincinnati claimed veteran Randy Bullock on waivers, oddly enough from the Steelers.Safety Shamarko Thomas (concussion) and wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot) will both not play Sunday. ' ' '