MLB asks for federal mediation assistance in negotiations

*Photo from NJ.com*

   Well, stop me if you've heard this before, but MLB took an already tense situation and upped the ante, making it even more tense. MLB on Thursday announced it would be seeking the help of a federal mediator to try and jumpstart CBA negotiations in an attempt to end the lockout quicker.

   This kind of action requires a sign off from the MLBPA. After consultations with their executive board, the MLBPA announced on Friday it would reject the entrance of a federal mediator into the ongoing lockout and negotiating period. The lockout has now been in effect for 64 days.

   MLB released a statement on the players declining, saying that "Our goal is to have players on the field and fans in the ballparks for spring training and Opening Day. With camps scheduled to open in less than two weeks, it is time to get immediate assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to help us work through our differences and break the deadlock. It is clear the most productive path forward would be the involvement of an impartial third party to help bridge gaps and facilitate an agreement. It is hard to understand why a party that wants to make an agreement would reject mediation from the federal agency specifically tasked with resolving these disputes, including many successes in professional sports. MLB remains committed to offering solutions at the table and reaching a fair agreement for both sides."

   After this was released, Max Scherzer, a new member of the New York Mets and a member of the MLBPA executive board, said on Twitter that the players want a system where a luxury tax threshold and subsequent penalties don't function as a salary cap, end service time manipulation, help younger players make more money faster, and help to depress the strategy of tanking.

   This latest turmoil between the two sides comes after MLB and the MLBPA had their latest round of CBA negotiations this week. There was once again very little progress and a high amount of finger pointing, with MLB yet to have made a counter proposal to the MLBPA.