Ten weeks after implementing a lockout they said was designed to “jump start” negotiations on a new labor agreement with the players so the 2022 season could start on time, baseball owners and top executives are meeting in Orlando through Thursday to plot their next step in the ongoing standoff.
At the least, that may include formal announcement by commissioner Rob Manfred of the obvious: that spring camps across Florida and Arizona won’t open as scheduled next week.
And, unofficially, frame a deadline of roughly two weeks to make a deal that with an abbreviated spring training could still allow teams to start play for real as planned March 31.
