Major League Baseball locked out its players early Thursday morning, signifying the league\'s first work stoppage since 1990 after months of talks yielded little progress toward a new labor agreement.
Rob Manfred expressed disappointment in the lockout but said he believes it is \"the best mechanism to protect the 2022 season.\"
During a lockout, team officials and players cannot communicate in any way.
Major League free agency and trades of players on 40-man rosters end immediately. There was a flurry of deals struck before the labor deadline.
The MLBPA also issued a statement early Thursday morning, calling the lockout \"a dramatic measure, regardless of the timing.\"
Via Jeff Passan/ESPN