MLB owners vote to impose lockout

Major League Baseball faced a work stoppage for the first time in nearly 30 years after the collective bargaining agreement expired on Wednesday and owners moved to lock out players.

As The Associated Press reported, the move ends over 26 years of labor peace, with the last work stoppage occurring in 1995.

MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred Jr. wrote in a letter to fans that he was “disappointed.” 

“Despite the league’s best efforts to make a deal with the Players Association, we were unable to extend our 26 year-long history of labor peace and come to an agreement with the MLBPA before the current CBA expired. Therefore, we have been forced to commence a lockout of Major League players, effective at 12:01am ET on December 2,” wrote Manfred.

Manfred claimed the MLB Players Association had a vision for the future that would threaten competitiveness and accused the organization of refusing to compromise. As the AP noted, the Players Association wanted to address declining average salaries, middle-class players being forced out and veterans being let go in favor of lower-paid players.

“Today is a difficult day for baseball, but as I have said all year, there is a path to a fair agreement, and we will find it. I do not doubt the League and the Players share a fundamental appreciation for this game and a commitment to its fans,” he added.

Due to the lockout, players have been barred from team workout facilities. Annual winter meetings in Orlando, Fla. have also been canceled and signings are frozen.