MLB cancels all spring training games through March 7

Winston-Salem Dash president and GM Brian DeAngelis weighs in on the MLB lockout and the ongoing negotiations on 'Fox News Live.'

Baseball players and owners took a first step toward salvaging opening day, nearing agreement Friday on an amateur draft lottery during lockout negotiations that included a surprise one-on-one meeting between Commissioner Rob Manfred and union head Tony Clark.

While an agreement on the draft was not complete, the talks gained momentum for the first time as Major League Baseball's end of Monday deadline approached for a deal that would preserve opening day on March 31 and a 162-game schedule.

Talks will continue Saturday, the 87th day of baseball’s first work stoppage since 1995. The sides remain far apart on the big-money issues of the competitive balance tax thresholds and rates, salary arbitration eligibility, the size of a bonus pool for pre-arbitration-eligible players and the minimum salary.

In another sign of the disruption caused by baseball's ninth work stoppage, MLB canceled three more days of spring training games through March 7. Exhibition games were to have begun Saturday.

New York Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, left, and San Diego Padres vice chairman Ron Fowler walk at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, where baseball labor talks continue Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.  (AP Photo/Ron Blum)

MLB 4 DAYS FROM DEADLINE TO CANCEL GAMES AND SHORTEN SEASON

But for the first time all week, both sides expressed a feeling they had moved in a positive direction.

Manfred had a meeting with Clark in June 2020 during pandemic restart talks that produced disagreement over what transpired and sparked a still-pending grievance over the length of the season.

Manfred had not