Major League Baseball lockout appears imminent after negotiations end abruptly

[Brother Buzz]

5. Statement From the Major League Baseball Players Association

Statement From the Major League Baseball Players Association:

Major League Baseball has announced a lockout of Players, shutting down our industry.

This shutdown is a dramatic measure, regardless of the timing. It is not required by law or for any other reason. It was the owners' choice, plain and simple, specifically calculated to pressure Players into relinquishing rights and benefits, and abandoning good faith bargaining proposals that will benefit not just Players, but the game and industry as a whole.

These tactics are not new. We have been here before, and Players have risen to the occasion time and again — guided by a solidarity that has been forged over generations. We will do so again here.

We remain determined to return to the field under the terms of a negotiated collective bargaining agreement that is fair to all parties, and provides fans with the best version of the game we all love.

MLBPA executive director, Tony Clark.