Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association reached an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement Thursday afternoon. The owner-imposed lockout ended about 99 days after it began. It was the second longest break in baseball history after the 1994-95 players’ strike (232 days). The end of the lockout means the return of the baseball business, which means it’s possible to make deals and sign contracts with free agents again. Yes, it’s hot stove season again and we’re seeing another flurry of moves before the spring practice game kicks off.
Prior to the lockout, seven of CBS Sports’ top 10 free agents signed with teams. So shortstop Carlos Correa, third baseman Chris Bryant, and first baseman Freddie Freeman remain top names. Others of note include outfielder Seiya Suzuki (who moved to MLB from the Japanese NPB) and closer Kenley Jansen.
All of these names remain on the open market, but on Friday the situation began to change. Here are the notable moves since the lockout was lifted on Thursday night.
Notable free agent deals
The next big fish to come off the board could be Freeman, who is said to be in talks with the Dodgers. To help you keep up with the latest happenings in the world of MLB transactions, CBS Sports will provide live updates and analysis. Follow below.