Major League Baseball lockout begins as players and owners fail to reach a new bargaining agreement
CNN
The collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and the players' union expired at 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, leading to the first official work stoppage in professional baseball since the 1994-95 seasons.
The lockout will prevent players from using team facilities as well as free agents from signing new contracts until a new CBA is reached.
In a letter to fans, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said: "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."