It happened. After almost 100 days of uncertainty, Major League Baseball and the MLBPA have tentatively reached an agreement on a new five-year collective bargaining agreement. The MLB lockout is officially over.
The League and MLBPA had agreed earlier Tuesday afternoon to have until July 25 to reach a deal on the international draft, which would erase the qualifying offer. If no deal is reached the QO returns and the system to sign international players will remain the same.
Nine-inning doubleheaders have returned and the ghost runner on second is no more.
With the MLB lockout over, players are able to report to spring training as early as March 11th, with Opening Day expected to be April 7th. A full 162 game schedule will be played.
The players voted 26-12 to approve the owner’s proposal, even with the executive board 8-0 the other way. The owners’ call to ratify is at 6PM tonight.
This being said, once the CBA is ratified which could occur as early as Thursday night, transactions can occur again- which means free agency can resume and trades can be made.
Specifics about schedules still have to be worked out, but the lockout is officially over and it’s time to play ball.
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
