Barring a surge of progress in labor talks this week, the executive board of the Major League Baseball Players' Association could confer by telephone by Friday to set a strike date, the earliest of which could be Aug. 16, according to reports in several media outlets.

There are several possible dates on which the players would strike, but Aug. 16 appears to be the front-runner, with Sept. 1 as the other likely choice, sources told ESPN.

So far, no board meeting has been scheduled, but on Monday union head Donald Fehr said a decision on whether to hold one "will be made shortly,'' the Associated Press reported.

Three sources familiar with the union's deliberations said the meeting could take place next week. The sources spoke on condition they not be identified.

Negotiations focused on revenue sharing when they resumed Monday, a day after commissioner Bud Selig and Fehr met privately in Cooperstown during Hall of Fame festivities. Talks were to continue Tuesday.

Rob Manfred, the owners' top labor lawyer, wouldn't predict what effect a deadline would have on the talks, which began in January.

"It depends on where we are in the process, how far off the date is,'' he said. "I've been careful on this strike-date issue. That is fundamentally a union decision. I'm not going to get speculating on what they should and should not decide.''

By setting a strike deadline, the union would control the timing of a work stoppage.

"Don Fehr knows what's in our best interests,'' Boston outfielder Johnny Damon said. "He's afraid that if the strike date is not set, there could be a possibly longer work stoppage because we'd be locked out, and the players won't come back if the owners set up their own set of rules.

"So if there was a strike, there would definitely be a much shorter work stoppage than if there was a lockout,'' Damon said.

The old labor contract expired Nov. 7, three days after the World Series.

Neither side would say what was discussed between Fehr and Selig when they met before the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. The two have had an often-bitter relationship over the past decade.

"Perfectly pleasant. I'm not going to characterize it beyond that,'' Fehr said.

Negotiators met twice at the union's offices. Players made a proposal on the benefit plan that was termed "positive'' by Manfred. Benefits have not been a major issue.

"The rest of the day was devoted to the topic of revenue sharing,'' Manfred said. "We adjourned with the union indicating they needed some time on this topic tonight.''

The sides said Friday they would be available for meetings every day this week, when Fehr hopes to pretty much conclude his tour of baseball's 30 teams.

Players, fearful that owners will change work rules or lock them out following the postseason, are threatening to call the sport's ninth work stoppage since 1972.

Pittsburgh players unanimously voted Friday to authorize the union's executive council to set a strike date.

"Something has to be done to press the issue and maybe this will help things along,'' Pirates player representative Kevin Young said. "Nobody on either side wants to see baseball come to a stop."

Fehr met Friday with the New York Mets.

"We have to continue to do what's right for the future of the game," Mets first baseman Mo Vaughn said after his team met with Fehr. "We know that if it comes down to it, we know what we've got to do."

Fehr is expected to meet Tuesday with the Houston Astros in New York, then go to Texas for meetings with the Rangers, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. He has yet to schedule a meeting with the Chicago Cubs.

"Hopefully, the strike won't happen,'' Cincinnati outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. said. "We don't want to have to deal with this."

Owners, wanting to redirect money from the big-spending teams, have proposed increasing the amount of shared locally generated revenue from 20 percent to 50 percent.

Management also wants a 50 percent luxury tax on the portions of payrolls above $98 million to slow the rise in player salaries, which averaged $2.38 million on Opening Day this year.

Players don't want to drain too much money from the high-revenue teams, who would otherwise spend it on players.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.