It is a Long-Awaited Season, at Best

After the 2022 MLB Season was halted by a 99-day-long work stoppage—which just so happened to be the second-longest lockout in Major League Baseball history—an agreement was reached. Jeff Passan of ESPN—along with a number of other large-scale media outlets reported Thursday via Twitter—Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association reached an agreement on a new labor deal. A vote of 30-0 was completed by owners Thursday that officially ratified the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

This meant that Opening Day is expected to be April 7, and players could report to Spring Training as early as Monday, 3/14. This agreement is massive for the game, as a lack of such agreement would have potentially delayed the regular-season for several additional weeks, if not months.

Pivotal Changes to the Sport

As part of the new CBA, the MLBPA agreed with the owners on a number of beneficial changes, including a universal designated hitter across both the American and National Leagues, an expanded 12-team postseason format, minimum salaries, as well as a draft lottery.

Starting in 2023, a committee will be bringing forth changes in the form of a pitch clock, the banning of the shift, an automatic ball/strike zone, and base size.

Also included was eradicating the rule of a runner on second base to start extra innings, as well as 7 inning doubleheaders, two fan-favorites that will now be removed. It will be compelling to see these changes implemented into the game.

What is at Stake for the Red Sox?

As far as the product on the field goes for the 2022 Boston Red Sox, there are a number of high-priced free agents that have yet to sign deals, and free agency has the chance to ramp up as soon as early Thursday evening.

The Hall of Fame Election of Red Sox legend David Ortiz was absolutely the spark of a not-so-eventful off-season for the game, and it provided some much-needed excitement for Boston sports fanatics.

Aside from franchise cornerstones in Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers continuing to produce, changes could absolutely be made to weaker spots on the roster, including the right side of the infield as well as depth in a bullpen that struggled at times last season. Seeing Bloom let free-agent Kyle Schwarber go, who played such an important role in the Sox’ run to the ALCS in 2021, was alarming at the least. It was interesting to see Bloom not bring back a player who, despite his limited experience at first base, consistently produces in the lineup. Will he be willing to part ways with a slugger in JD Martinez, who has been a key part of what Boston has done in the past several years? Both are questions that are begging for answers in the coming days.

However, signing a productive player in Trevor Story was a move that the fan-base could get behind.

An Anticipated Near-Future

All in all, the 2022 season for the Boston Red Sox has a lot of high hopes as opposed to last season, where Boston was expected to finish in the near-basement of an already-talented American League East. Boston followed up those low expectations with a run to the ALCS, proving the doubters wrong in convincing fashion.

A very shortened free agency period should make for utter chaos not only for teams that are trying to improve their rosters ahead of the beginning of the regular season, but also for pending free agents that are eager to arrive to spring training with renewed beginnings—or even resumed chapters.