NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball’s acrimonious players and owners ended their most bitter money fight in a quarter-century when a divided players’ association accepted management’s offer to salvage a 162-game season that will start April 7.
On the 99th day of a lockout that delayed spring training and threatened to cancel regular-season games for the first time since 1995, the players’ executive board approved a five-year contract at about 3 p.m. in a 28-12 vote. Owners ratified the deal 30-0 just three hours later, and the lockout was lifted at 7 p.m., ending baseball’s ninth work stoppage.
"While it still needs to be ratified by both parties, that is expected to be a formality, and when it is: Baseball is back," Passan tweeted.
BREAKING: Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor deal, sources tell ESPN. While it still needs to be ratified by both parties, that is expected to be a formality, and when it is:
Baseball is back.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 10, 2022
According to The Score's Travis Sawchik, the deal needed 20 "yes" votes to pass on the union's side. It received 26.
Told it was a 26-12 vote
— Travis Sawchik (@Travis_Sawchik) March 10, 2022
With baseball looking like it is coming back, Boston Globe reporter Michael Silverman pointed out that the league still needs to ratify the deal.
Source: Players union has told MLB it has approved their proposal.
Owners still need to ratify.— Michael Silverman (@MikeSilvermanBB) March 10, 2022
According to the Associated Press, training camps should open by the weekend in Florida and Arizona, with opening day slated for April 7.
Free agency is slated to begin Thursday night, with players including Kris Bryant and Freddie Freeman possibly finding new homes.
Talks aimed at ending the lockout bogged down on the draft issue Wednesday, and baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred canceled 93 more games, raising the total to 184.
The major hurdle that was stopping a deal from happening was the league wanting to hold an international draft, the Associated Press reported.
According to ESPN, the league proposed that the draft beginning in 2024, with teams being placed in pods of seven or eight with draft positions rotating so the top amateur talent could be made equitable access to.
