<p><a class='ath autolink' href='https://theathletic.com/mlb/'>Major League Baseball</a> on Wednesday evening <a href="https://theathletic.com/news/mlb-cancels-two-more-series-postpones-opening-day-until-at-least-april-14/3dBFtRv75m34/" target= self>announced the cancellation of more regular-season games,</a> pushing Opening Day to April 14. But on Thursday they were able to come to an agreement on <a href="https://theathletic.com/news/major-league-baseball-to-make-full-proposal-to-players-association-sources/BX9hzsUlHiCp/" target= self>the international draft and the qualifying offer</a>. MLB now plans to make a full proposal covering all issues to the union, sources tell The Athletic.</p><p></p><p>The sides this week took steps toward each other on the numbers in some issues, including the luxury tax thresholds and the minimum salaries. Gaps still remained on key issues, but the
<p><a href="https://theathletic.com/news/major-league-baseball-players-association-agree-to-cba-deal-sources/BX9hzsUlHiCp/" target= self>The lockout is over and baseball is back</a>. Players and owners on Thursday agreed on major points of a new collective bargaining agreement, and spring training is expected to get underway on Sunday. The commissioner’s office and Major League Baseball Players Association reached the agreement Thursday on the 99th day of the owners’ lockout to end the first work stoppage the sport has had in 26 years. Free agency and the rest of the sport’s transactions, including trades, can resume immediately.</p><p></p><p>Despite how contentious the lockout was, and how bleak the scene at times looked, the deal's timing averts worst-case scenarios for the sport. In the end, baseball is still expected to have a full 162-game scheduled, with some games rescheduled and the season ultimately starting l