The collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association expired at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, just seven hours after Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Baez, who signed a six-year, $140 million contract, expressed his readiness "to play" for his new organization.
Two minutes later, MLB officially implemented a lockout.
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It's the ninth work stoppage (first since 1994-95) and the fourth lockout (first since 1990).