In Tampa, no major names as lockout keeps stars away

TAMPA — On the corner of Dale Mabry and Columbus there had long been a huge sign at the edge of the Yankees player development complex. It proudly boasted the years of each of the organization’s 27 World Series titles. It was taken down in December replaced by just a plain black tarp, which was the sad backdrop Monday for the only baseball in town.

Just a week before players would usually report here for the beginning of spring training, the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement between the major league owners and the players union have stalled. On an overcast, but warm day in central Florida the likes of Aaron Judge, DJ LeMahieu, Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton should have been arriving at the complex for informal workouts. Instead, because of the lockout, it was just about 50 young prospects, most who have yet to make a name for themselves in the game, doing drills as part of a mini camp.

It was the only professional baseball to be seen as the hopes that the labor unrest would be settled before spring training continued to dwindle.

Monday, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh indicated he was ready to step in and help get negotiations going. Owners, who voted unanimously to lock out the players on Dec. 2, are expected to hold their annual gathering this week in Orlando and there is hope that they will finally make a counter to the players’ last offer. The owners had requested federal mediators be called in after the last players’ offer, a request the union declined.

With the clock ticking on the scheduled March 31 Opening Day, there is no sign that the sides are closer to an agreement.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said the lockout was a necessary point of leverage by the owners to bring urgency to the negotiations. Still, the league made no attempt at negotiations for six weeks after that and it was a move that angered players.

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