MLB: Baseball’s back, alright

The GIST: Eighty-four years 99 days later, MLB and the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) finally agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) yesterday, ending the second-longest work stoppage in baseball history. Mark your calendar for April 7th, the new Opening Day. Play ball, baby!

The details: It took some compromise to get this deal done. The league acquiesced when it came to minimum player salary, increasing it from $570.5K to $700K, while the MLBPA notably dropped their grievance against the league for wages lost during the 2020 COVID-19–shortened season.

• As for key rule changes, the National League will align with the American League and implement a designated hitter rule — meaning we won’t have to watch (most) pitchers struggle through at-bats anymore.

• And there’ll also be an increase from 10 playoff teams to 12. More teams, more party.

What’s next: No time to waste. Players can start reporting to Spring Training as soon as today, and Spring Training games will begin on March 18th. Meanwhile, with no transactions allowed during the lockout, the free agency market is officially open, and a flurry of activity is expected.

• Major names who might be on the move include 2021 World Series champion Freddie Freeman, four-time All Star Kris Bryant and Carlos “Cheater” Correa. Buckle up.