NEW YORK (AP) — The likelihood of pitchers and catchers reporting on time has become more remote.
Locked-out players have rejected Major League Baseball’s request for a federal mediator to enter stalled labor negotiations.
The Major League Baseball Players Association on Friday ruled out a third party intervening, one day after MLB asked for help from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The union issued a statement saying that “the clearest path to a fair and timely agreement is to get back to the table.”
The lockout is in its 65th day, and there appears little chance of an on-time start to spring training and opening day is increasingly threatened. Spring training workouts are to start Feb. 16 and opening day is scheduled for March 31.
There have been just three negotiating sessions on core economics since and one digital meeting since owners locked out players on Dec. 2.
In other MLB news:
— Former Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks has rejoined the organization to take a role as an assistant in player development. The Brewers also have hired former Pirates and Orioles third baseman Pedro Álvarez as an assistant in baseball operations and player development. Weeks played for the Brewers in 2003 and from 2005-14. He was named an All-Star in 2011.
— Joe West has formally retired from Major League Baseball after umpiring a record 5,460 regular-season games. The 69-year-old West worked his first big league game in 1976. His finale was on Oct. 6 when he worked home plate at Dodger Stadium for the NL wild-card game between Los Angeles and the Cardinals.
