The MLB lockout talks took a dramatic twist when it was announced that the owners wanted to get a federal mediator involved with no signs of progress being made. This major announcement came just days after MLBPA leader and star pitcher Max Scherzer had expressed frustration with the owners' stance amid the lockout. The MLBPA and owners then traded barbs over the mediator news. On Friday, Scherzer went off on the owners with a list of demands as the back-and-forth continued.

This is a major bomb dropped by Max Scherzer on the MLB owners. Scherzer feels there is no need for a federal mediator because he believes the players' lockout offer is fair for everyone. He then proceeded to detail said offer.

Scherzer and the players want a system where younger players have more earning potential, which in part is being limited by the owners' use of service time manipulation. They also want to do away with tanking as an MLB strategy.

What's interesting is that the MLB owners are framing the whole ‘federal mediator' thing as a way to save the season, while Scherzer and the players are rejecting the mediator because they feel it isn't needed.

Basically, the owners see the mediator as the best way to get what they want- and conversely, the players see it as a way where their demands won't get met.

The MLB owners and the players are seemingly no closer than when the lockout first started. That much is apparent after hearing Max Scherzer's words on Friday.