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when was the last mlb lockout

The last Major League Baseball lockout began on December 2, 2021, and ended on March 10, 2022, lasting 99 days.

Key dates

  • Owners initiated the most recent MLB lockout at 12:01 a.m. EST on December 2, 2021, immediately after the previous collective bargaining agreement expired.
  • The lockout ended when players approved a new five-year CBA on March 10, 2022, after owners voted 30–0 in favor of the deal.

What the lockout meant

  • During the lockout, teams could not sign free agents, make trades involving players on 40‑man rosters, or have contact with those players.
  • Spring training was delayed and Opening Day for the 2022 season was pushed to April 7, but the full 162‑game schedule was ultimately preserved through makeup games and doubleheaders.

Quick context for fans

  • This was MLB’s first work stoppage since the infamous 1994–95 players’ strike, breaking a 26‑year run without halted labor.
  • The dispute centered on core economic issues like minimum salaries, competitive-balance tax thresholds, and incentives intended to curb service‑time manipulation and promote competitive balance.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.