Why there’s an MLB lockout, explained

Let’s talk all about the lockout.

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For the first time since 1994-95, there’s a work stoppage in Major League Baseball.

The collective bargaining agreement between the owners and MLB Players’ Association expired at midnight on Wednesday, and the former voted for the lockout to start.

It’s a really big deal, one that’s sure to cause some short-term damage to the game. The longview, from baseball’s point of view, is that whatever’s hammered out through this work stoppage will help the game in the future.

So what’s going on here? Why is this happening? What does it mean right now? We’ll try to answer all of this and more: