1.   But during the various signing freezes imposed by owners and striking players, the Red Sox made other plans and directed salary commitments elsewhere by trading for Jose Canseco.

2.   But the main reason so many players remained unsigned was the double signing freeze that existed through the winter.

3.   In another significant move that Selig announced almost parenthetically, the owners also voted against a player lock-out or a signing freeze this winter.

4.   In other related news Tuesday, the National Labor Relations Board threatened to take new action against owners for their signing freeze.

5.   It was the signing freeze, then, that kept the three players in Montreal temporarily.

6.   Selig denied that contraction is a ploy to gain leverage in the upcoming labor negotiations and said owners would not lock out players or impose a signing freeze.

7.   The collective bargaining agreement with the players ended Tuesday night, but Selig said owners decided against a lockout or a signing freeze.

8.   The owners could avoid the NLRB complaint by simply withdrawing their signing freeze they implemented in early February.

9.   The union is expected to end its signing freeze Monday.