With deadline looming, MLB negotiations produce progress, anger

Major League Baseball negotiations took several steps forward and overcame a possible breakdown after testy talks Saturday, leaving less than two days until management's deadline for an agreement to salvage opening day on March 31 and a 162-game schedule.

While the sides moved toward each other on some topics, they remained far apart on the biggest economic issues: luxury tax thresholds and rates, the minimum salary and the new pre-arbitration bonus pool.

Players were angered by the state of negotiations at the end of Saturday's session and would not commit to extending talks. After internal discussions, they agreed to meet for a seventh straight day Sunday in Jupiter, Fla.

MLB says if there is not an agreement by the end of Monday, it would start cancelling regular-season games because there will not be enough training time to play a full schedule. Players have not said whether they agree to that as a deadline and could make do with a shorter spring training.

Once Monday passes, the length of the schedule would become yet another issue in the dispute, along with possible lost pay and service time.

The union has told MLB if games are missed and salaries are lost, clubs should not expect players to agree to management proposals to expand the post-season and allow advertisements on uniforms and helmets.

For all the rancor, there was progress that saw the sides align on some issues.

MLB characterized its tax proposal as intentionally lousy, in response to a union tax proposal teams felt was equally lousy.

Players object to the rates as increases from the current figures of 20 per cent for the first threshold, 32 per cent for the second and 62.5 per cent for the third. Clubs say they in turn are eliminating higher rates for