By Owen Russell
The Major League Baseball Players Union (MLBPA) and MLB owners agreed to the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement on Thursday, Mar. 10, ending the 99-day owner-imposed lockout. Opening Day will begin on Apr. 7 with nine games, including a Yankees and Red Sox matchup. With less than a month till the season begins, here is how things will go moving forward.
The CBA’s changes in terms are suspiciously underwhelming considering the headache-inducing negotiation process. After intense deliberations, the major changes include an expanded playoff format, a universal designated hitter (DH), and a draft lottery. Analysts can discuss whether owners or players got the short end of the stick, but fans want to know one thing. When does the baseball start?
After months of delay, spring training has finally been underway since Mar. 11 and will last until Apr. 6, one day before the revised Opening Day. Teams will play a varied amount of games starting Mar. 17, in contrast to the 30 or so games played in traditional spring training.
While players scramble to get into shape during the condensed pre-season, some big-name talents have yet to find a home. Familiar faces like third baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant and designated hitter/first baseman Kyle Schwarber are still on the market. Along with Schwarber and Bryant, lifetime Atlanta Brave Freddie Freeman has yet to reach a deal with the defending World Series Champs.
While some major players may be on the move, none are bigger than Carlos Correa (SS), who is widely considered the best player available. Correa currently garners interest from multiple big-name clubs, including the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, and his previous team, the Houston Astros.
In the weeks leading up to Opening Day, teams will throw money around to sway some of these game-changing players in one direction or another but don’t be fooled. In the short time since baseball operations restarted, some teams have already made a splash or two.
Big-name pitchers are on the move, as starting pitcher Carlos Rodón signed with the San Francisco Giants, and starting pitcher Sonny Gray was traded from the Cincinnati Reds to the Minnesota Twins. Clayton Kershaw, a Cy Young Award magnet, will return to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
As for New York’s ball clubs, the Mets and Yankees have shown varying signs of life since baseball resumed. The Mets have been relatively quiet since setting the world on fire back in the fall, signing starting pitching ace Max Scherzer. In the last few days, the Mets acquired pitchers Chris Bassitt (SP) and Adam Ottavino (RP), bolstering their rotation and bullpen. Unlike their cousins in Queens, the Yankees were criticized before the lockout for their inactivity.
In hopes of appeasing their rabid fan base, the Yankees acquired former MVP and third baseman Josh Donaldson from the Minnesota Twins in a blockbuster deal. As reported by Jeff Passan, the Yankees acquired Donaldson, as well as shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and catcher Ben Rortvedt for catcher Gary Sánchez and third baseman Gio Urshela. Josh Donaldson adds power into an already booming Yankees lineup, and the trade also fills a short-stop-sized hole that some hoped would be filled by Carlos Correa.
After suffering months of uncertainty, fans and players can now get back to baseball. The lockout may stain the early days of the 2022 season, but for how long? Only time will tell.