21.   The merger was reached just a few months after NASCAR announced it was taking television negotiating rights from speedway operators.

22.   The Oilers have exclusive negotiating rights to these players, all who have less than three years of service.

23.   The New York Yankees acquired the negotiating rights for Japanese pitcher Hideki Irabu from the San Diego Padres for an undisclosed amount of cash and two prospects.

24.   The Padres initially gained negotiating rights to the pitcher through a working agreement with his Japanese team, the Chiba Lotte Marines.

25.   The Vikings have exclusive negotiating rights to these players, who have less than three years of service.

26.   The Yankees acquired rights to Irabu from the San Diego Padres, who held exclusive negotiating rights to him through a working agreement with his Japanese team.

27.   Under baseball rules, the Dodgers have exclusive negotiating rights to Piazza for two weeks after the World Series.

28.   When you say signing someone is your top priority and you have exclusive negotiating rights, what you are saying is that you will get a deal done.

29.   At least five other teams were interested in Irabu, most notably the New York Yankees, although none had negotiating rights.

30.   But his team in Japan, the Chiba Lotte Marines, agreed in January to give the Padres exclusive negotiating rights.