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As MLB lockout begins, Detroit Tigers promise to 'be prepared for when it's over'

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The collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association expired at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.
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. MORE FROM USA TODAY: MLB lockout is on after collective bargaining agreement expires, owners agree to freeze out players It’s the ninth work stoppage (first since 1994-95) and the fourth lockout (first since 1990). During the previous three lockouts, no games were missed. Those lockouts lasted 18 days in February 1973, 16 days in February-March 1976 and 32 days in February-March 1990. « There’s a few things that we can do to make the team better, » Tigers general manager Al Avila said Wednesday. « If there is a lockout, we will be prepared for when it’s over. Truth be told, when we get done with this press conference, we still have work to do. We’ll continue working tonight. » By locking out the players, the owners aim to motivate the union to progress toward a new labor contract. Negotiations about the economics of the game are at a standstill. The last CBA between MLB and the MLBPA was negotiated and implemented in 2016 and ended this week. Now that there’s a lockout, all MLB player activity is frozen. This means no free-agent signings, no trades, no use of team facilities and no contact between the team and its players on the 40-man roster. (For example, Tigers manager AJ Hinch isn’t allowed to speak to Casey Mize, Miguel Cabrera and the rest of the crew.) The MLB portion of the winter meetings, originally scheduled for next week in Orlando, are canceled. SHAWN WINDSOR: If AJ Hinch trusts Javier Baez will be a difference maker, you should, too MIGGY’S IMPACT: Javier Baez believes Miguel Cabrera’s mentorship can ‘take me to the next level’ « This defensive lockout was necessary because the Players Association’s vision for Major League Baseball would threaten the ability of most teams to be competitive, » commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday in a statement. « It’s simply not a viable option. From the beginning, the MLBPA has been unwilling to move from their starting position, compromise, or collaborate on solutions. « Regrettably, it appears the Players Association came to the bargaining table with a strategy of confrontation over compromise. They never wavered from collectively the most extreme set of proposals in their history, including significant cuts to the revenue-sharing system, a weakening of the competitive balance tax and shortening the period of time that players play for their teams.

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