As the lockout between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association now enters a new week and with Spring training already been delayed (though there has been no official announcement), the on-time start of spring training games in serious danger, the next and the most important date on the calendar is the drop-dead date for being able to have Opening Day (scheduled for March 31) on time.

The latest possible day that MLB and the MLPA have to agree to a deal before by or around February 24 in order for Opening Day to happen on schedule and avoid the disastrous outcome" of lost regular-season games that Manfred talked about last week. Yes, as of today, the two sides have 10 days to make something happen. Hmm... sounds like a tall order right? What's the latest?

The latest on the MLB and MLBPA Negotations

Over the weekend on February 12th, MLB and the MLBPA met, and while the expectations of a deal to be agreed upon were none, according to Joon Lee of ESPN, as the players' association was "unimpressed" with MLB's offer.  The Athletic's Evan Drellich says union officials are "underwhelmed," and Lee added that "very little progress" was made. However, Jon Heyman reported that he heard from two players "side people," (not sure what that means honestly), said the offer presented was "not as (terrible) as most expected."

Also according to Heyman, the meeting on Saturday from the MLB side wasn't to "facilitate a deal in days. The intention rather was to spark talk and trigger more give-and-take. MLB clearly has more room for flexibility but seeks to first see greater movement from the players."

According to sources, MLB offered to eliminate draft pick penalties for teams exceeding the first tax threshold, and they also offered to raise the threshold in the final three years of the deal. The league also offered a higher salary for third-year players from $700,000 to $725,000, as well as a $630,000 salary for all pre-arbitration players, and the teams could give them a raise if they see fit.

Related Article: MLB has agreed to a Draft Lottery and a Universal DH

Additionally, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reported an "interesting addition to MLB's proposal" on Saturday afternoon. She stated that MLB proposed a limit to the number of times a player can be optioned per season and "in there, changes in light of Kumar Rocker situation: if you submit to a pre-draft physical then drafted, you’re assured 75 percent of slot value and drafting club can’t fail you in a post-draft physical. At least as proposed."

Manfred said on Thursday that once a deal is reached, it should take less than a week to get players to camp. As far as a potential length of spring training, Manfred said players would need roughly four weeks. Either way, both sides need to get into gear as the calendar is no longer in their favor.