In a week defined by long, ultimately fruitless meetings, Thursday’s 1 p.m. negotiation session between Major League Baseball and the Players’ Association was over by 5:00 p.m. By all accounts, it was yet another day of little to no progress, and things ended earlier than usual because both sides felt like they had reached a dead end, per ESPN reports.
There was a newcomer at the table as Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner made his first appearance at Roger Dean Stadium, the spring training home of the Marlins and Cardinals where each of this week’s daily meetings have taken place. The group of active players in attendance increased as well, with reports stating that Astros’ pitcher Lance McCullers and Marlins’ infielder Miguel Rojas joined the fun on Thursday. Mets’ starter Max Scherzer has been the most prominent player at the meetings, as well as Gerrit Cole, Fransico Lindor, Andrew Miller, Paul Goldschmidt and Jameson Taillon, among others.
Steinbrenner was part of a bargaining session with Dick Monfort and Ron Fowler — owners of the Rockies and Padres, respectively — plus deputy commissioner Dan Halem. Much like they’ve done all week, the players’ side met in the stadium’s parking lot before heading into the stadium for the real thing. Per the Associated Press, Players Association executive director Tony Clark and chief negotiator Bruce Meyer headed the parking lot brigade.
