ATLANTA — Major League Baseball and MLB Players Association have agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement, which will end lockout that lasted nearly 100 days, according to multiple reports.
The deal will need to be ratified by both the owners and players later Thursday, ESPN and MLB Network reported.
With the lockout over, Opening Day will be on April 7, walking back Wednesday’s decision by MLB to postpone it for another week.
Players can report to a shortened Spring Training beginning this weekend with first games set for March 17.
Channel 2 Sports Director Zach Klein will have LIVE coverage breaking down the agreement, on Channel 2 Action News.
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:
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 10, 2022
Baseball is back.
What does the end of the lockout mean for the World Series champion Atlanta Braves?
The Braves will now start the season with a home series April 7-10 against the Cincinnati Reds.
The opener is a shot of good news for local businesses at the Battery and around Cobb County that count on the crowds from Braves games and the workers who keep the stadium operating.
A special ceremony will be held during the first homestand to unveil the 2021 World Series pennant.
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With the lockout now out of the way, the biggest question remains if star first baseman Freddie Freeman resigns with the organization.
Teams weren’t allowed to sign major league players to new contracts or agree to trades during the lockout. According to ESPN reports, free agency can begin as early as tonight.
Other Braves free agents include World Series MVP Jorge Soler, NLCS MVP Eddie Rosario and fan-favorite Joc Pederson.
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Thursday’s agreement comes after weeks of back-and-forth proposals from MLB and MLBPA representatives.
After the original deadline was not met, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred canceled the first couple of series for each team when a deal wasn’t reached.
Those games will now be made up as doubleheaders throughout the season.
Check back at WSBTV.com for a full breakdown of what’s included in the CBA and what was left out.
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