MLB extends deadline to salvage openers to 5 p.m. Tuesday

By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Major League Baseball and the players’ union are ready to talk again as they try to end the lockout and salvage opening day. After a marathon of 13 bargaining sessions over 16 1/2 hours produced progress toward a labor deal but left the sides still far apart, MLB extended its deadline to Tuesday at 5 p.m. The sides are back in place for more talks at a spring training stadium in Jupiter, Florida. They met among themselves in the morning but had not gathered together in person by noon on the ninth straight day of bargaining. Commissioner Rob Manfred had said Monday was the last possible day to reach an agreement that would allow enough time for spring training in order to play openers as scheduled on March 31.