MLB labor talks go past midnight amid opening day deadline

By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Major League Baseball has extended its deadline for reaching a labor deal to 5 p.m. on Tuesday for salvaging opening day on March 31. Locked-out players and team owners engaged in a series of intense negotiations that began Monday and stretched into early Tuesday morning as the sides attempted to forge the path to an agreement. Players and owners met for a 13th time with a session that started after 2 a.m. as the lockout reached its 90th day. They made progress toward an agreement but remained far apart on key issues. But after months of talks in fits and starts, the sides shifted into possible deal-making mode.