But Fehr admitted Friday to "heightened" concern about the state of the market, citing the large number of free agents who remain unemployed.

Pitchers and catchers begin reporting to spring training in two weeks, yet nearly 90 free agents are still looking for jobs.

The union examines trends in every free-agent market, but will not decide whether to file a collusion grievance until the signing period is complete.

"Obviously, we've looked at it every year since the mid-1980s," Fehr told FOXSports.com. "That concern becomes heightened when you go late into the period of time when players should be signed and many fewer players have signed and spring training is nearer."

While major league executives cite the faltering economy as the reason for the sluggish market, some agents say privately that the owners are working in concert to avoid competitive bidding for free agents.

The unions' outside counsel has begun contacting agents about "possible collusion," according to several agents.

Rob Manfred, MLB's Executive Vice President of Labor Relations & Human Resources, said the large number of players still available is simply a reflection of market forces.

"To the extent that Don is expressing concern ... we are all concerned about the economic state of affairs," Manfred said. "I can understand that. It's a soft labor market. There are guys without jobs. It concerns him; it concerns us; it concerns everyone.

"On the other hand, to suggest that there is anything other than normal market forces at work here is really ridiculous. We are collapsing in a very serious recession. To think that wasn't going to have an affect on the players' market, you'd have to have your head in the sand or believe the players' market was immune to overall economic forces."

Arbitrators ruled that owners violated the collective-bargaining agreement through collusion in 1985, '86 and '87, leading to a settlement in which the owners paid the players $280 million in damages.

The union, before filing a grievance, would need to decide whether the agents are merely speaking out of frustration or whether facts support their claims.

The economy clearly is responsible for the plummeting values of many free agents. The union likely would take exception, however, if clubs deemed some of those free agents to have little or no value.

"No matter what the general climate is, we're certain clubs want to put the best possible teams on the field," Fehr said.

"There are certainly a significant number of quality players available that can help a lot of teams. I'm hoping the situation will rectify itself."

Rockies' Francis: Headed for surgery?

Rockies left-hander Jeff Francis expects to "pitch the better part of the season," according to his agent, Jim Lindell. But if Francis' ailing shoulder does not improve, he could undergo exploratory surgery as a last resort.

"It's a definite possibility. If there's no response, that probably would happen next," Lindell said. "But he will take as long as possible to decide what is the best thing to do.

"If exploratory surgery is the best thing to do, I don't see it happening for another couple of months. If all else fails, that's the last option."

Francis, 28, has resumed playing catch after getting a cortisone shot, Lindell said. The pitcher no longer is experiencing sharp pain in the front of his shoulder, just soreness.

Right-handers Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez and Jason Marquis will be three of the Rockies' starters, with or without Francis.

The other candidates include lefties Greg Smith, Franklin Morales, Glendon Rusch and Jorge De La Rosa, plus righties Jason Hirsh, Greg Reynolds, Matt Belisle and Josh Fogg.

Mariners stuck in neutral

The good news for the Mariners is that they will shed a combined $31.35 million in salaries when the contracts of third baseman Adrian Beltre, left-hander Jarrod Washburn and right-hander Miguel Batista expire after this season.

The bad news is that the M's need to create more flexibility now, and trading any of those veterans wil be extremely difficult as long as comparable, less pricey veterans are available in free agency.