The frustrating stalemate involving MLB and the MLB Players Association that has caused the ongoing lockout still has no real end in sight. 

It was learned earlier this week that spring training starting on time as scheduled on Feb. 16 is “in grave danger,” and ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Thursday MLB has asked for a federal mediator to help bridge the gap between the sides and help resolve issues so that the regular season hopefully can begin, as planned, on the last day of March. 

The MLBPA must agree for a third party to get involved, and MLB Network’s Jon Heyman has suggested fans shouldn’t hold their figurative breaths: