Major League Baseball (MLB) and the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) reached an agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on Thursday, 10 March, including a full 162-game regular season this year.
The agreement ends the second-longest work stoppage in MLB history. The owners locked out the players on 2 December 2021.
The new CBA will run through the 2026 season.
Beginning in 2023, a committee comprised of four active players, six members appointed by MLB and one umpire will be tasked with adopting changes to playing rules such as a pitch clock, base size, defensive positioning and automatic ball/strike zone.
"I am genuinely thrilled to be able to say that Major League Baseball is back, and we're going to play 162 games," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said. "I do want to start by apologizing to our fans. I know that the last few months have been difficult."
"Our union endured the second-longest work stoppage in its history to achieve significant progress in key areas that will improve not just current players' rights and benefits, but those of generations to come," MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark said.
WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari tweeted, "It's great to have Major League Baseball back and with a full 2022 season for fans from all over the world to follow."
The players will report to the respective clubs between Friday 11 and Sunday 13 March. Spring Training games would start on 17 or 18 March. The regular season opening day is now scheduled for Thursday, 7 April. The expanded postseason will include 12 teams, with the top two division winners skipping the first round. The National League will introduce a designated hitter rule.
The lockout interrupted 26 years of labour peace. On 12 August 1994, the players went on strike against introducing a salary cap and returned to the field on 21 March 1995. This led to the cancellation of the 1994 playoffs and a 1995 season shortened by 18 games. Bud Selig was serving as MLB Commissioner at the time.
