Report: MLB, union executives meet for informal session

The talks are back on - even if Major League Baseball and the players' association aren't ready to formally speak just yet.

MLB deputy commissioner Dan Halem and MLBPA senior director Bruce Meyer scheduled an informal meeting Thursday, according to Evan Drellich of The Athletic.

The meeting marked the first conversation between the two sides since commissioner Rob Manfred canceled the first two regular-season series on Tuesday.

Halem and Meyer have led negotiations throughout the lockout, which is nearing its 100th day after being initiated by the owners at the beginning of December.

Following the meeting, ESPN's Marly Rivera reported that it lasted an hour and a half, with the tone remaining the same as before and producing no breakthroughs.

While talks seemed to gain traction leading up to the initial league-imposed Monday deadline, the sides remained too far apart Tuesday afternoon on key economic terms, specifically, the competitive balance tax and its penalties as well as a union-proposed pre-arbitration bonus pool.

The league and union do seem to agree on an expanded postseason format and the full-time implementation of the universal designated hitter.