The MLB lockout is finally over.
On Thursday afternoon, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players’ Association reached a tentative deal on a new collective bargaining agreement, thus ending a 99-day lockout, per multiple reports.
The regular season is slated to open on April 7, with the first game at Comerica Park reportedly set for April 8 against the Chicago White Sox.
The deal must still be ratified by both parties, but it is expected to merely be a formality.
While the lockout began on Dec. 2, the two sides did not ramp up negotiations until February and things became contentious over the last few weeks, with talks extending late into the night and early hours of the morning.
After failing to reach deals last week and as recently as Wednesday, the league announced it would cancel games through the first two weeks until April 14.
However, that does not appear as if it will be a necessity.
While Opening Day was originally slated to start on March 31, it will now begin on April 7 and a 162-game season will indeed be played with other games being rescheduled.
Spring training games will begin on March 17 with free agency beginning as soon as Thursday night, per Audacy’s Jon Heyman.
General managers will convene Thursday night to discuss logistics of the next steps, these were the dates reportedly in the proposal.
The regular season will also be extended three days with nine-inning doubleheaders to make up for the delay.
Details of the new CBA have not been reported. Check back for more.
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