After a 99-day lockout and a three-week spring training, the MLB season is officially ready to begin. During the 99-day owner-imposed lockout, no transactions or contact with MLB players could occur until the lockout was lifted. The owners imposed a lockout because the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) had expired, according to mlb.com. Yet and still, with 99 days of tense negotiations, they finally reached a deal on a new agreement that will allow America’s pastime to begin.

After the lockout ended, teams went into a two-week frenzy finishing their remaining free agency and making sure players could arrive safely and quickly to Florida and Arizona to begin spring training. As free agents remained unsigned, teams moved quickly to finish their free agency search so they could begin focusing on getting ready for the season. One team who made significant improvements during this period was the New York Mets. Led by new owner Steve Cohen, the Mets signed a series of contracts to big name players with the most notable being former Nats star and D.C. sports hero Max Scherzer to a three-year, $130 million contract. 

For D.C. sports fans this was a shock and disappointment to see a long-time star join a division rival. Sophomore Evan Geisner felt that the signing was disappointing but not shocking. “After seeing how free agency went and seeing how much money the Mets planned on spending, I was not surprised to see him go to them considering the size of his contract and the chance to play for a true title contender,” Geisner said.

In addition to the Mets, there is a group of six to eight other teams who are true contenders for the World Series. Among them, the 2021 world series champion Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers are two other teams who look poised for another deep run into the postseason. The Braves lost 14-year face of the franchise, first baseman Freddie Freeman to the Dodgers but were able to replace him by acquiring Matt Olson from the Oakland A’s, who is another multi-time all star at the same position. In the American League, the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers look poised for improvement after landing two of the top players in free agency.

The Minnesota Twins signed all star shortstop Carlos Correa, while the Detroit Tigers added all star shortstop Javy Baez. The Tigers in addition to Javy Baez have two budding young prospects in outfielder Riley Greene and first baseman Spencer Torkelson. Due to an injury, Riley Greene will not be on the opening day roster but Torkelson, the first pick in the 2020 MLB draft, will be the opening day starting first baseman for the Detroit Tigers. Sophomore Jacob Gelic said, “This is one of the more exciting times for an upcoming season with all these new guys.”

The MLB looks to be in for another exciting season, one that fans, players and coaches alike can all love and enjoy. Even after a 99-day lockout that frustrated, irritated and seemed never ending, fans are ready to pack the stands for their teams and hope that this year their team will finish as champions.