Major League Baseball season begins after winter tension with players

One hundred and fifty-seven days passed between the time when the Atlanta Braves won last year's World Series and the opening of the 2022 Major League Baseball season. Meanwhile, one of the most tense moments in the history of baseball in the United States took place when players and teams could not agree on the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, which ended up being signed against the clock and affected the start of spring training.

After a record amount of money spent on free agents and the bitter labor dispute that also delayed Opening Day, baseball returns. However, all will be forgotten when the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers lift the curtain on the campaign at Wrigley Field Thursday afternoon, the first of seven games that day.

Luckily, all the legal stuff is out of the way, and the pure fun begins and ahead of Thursday's first pitch, here's ADN America's guide to following a historic season.

La temporada 2022 estará “De Museo”. @MLBNetwork @sanbenito pic.twitter.com/KeNOTRPHHi

— LasMayores (@LasMayores) April 7, 2022

NEW FACES AND NEW CONTENDERS

The unusual winter break split signing activity into two segments, with the first wave of acquisitions before the 99-day lockout that began on December 1, followed by a rush to round out rosters when the ban was lifted on March 10.

The Rangers were the big winners in the first half. Texas signed Corey Seager and Marcus Semien for a combined $500 million, solidifying the middle of their infield.

Cy Young winner Robbie Ray left Toronto for the Seattle Mariners and the Blue Jays replaced him with Kevin Gausman from the San Francisco Giants. The Detroit Tigers added Puerto Rican bullpen player Javier Baez and Venezuelan starter Eduardo Rodriguez. Even the Miami Marlins entered the fight, paying for Venezuelan Avisal García and Cuban Jorge Soler, World Series MVP.

Veteran ace Max Scherzer also signed early, joining the New York Mets on a three-year, $130 million deal to be the rotation leader because two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom will start the year on the injured list.

When the market reopened in March, the spotlight was on Freddie Freeman and the Braves. Atlanta general manager Alex Anthopoulos dismissed any hopes of reconciliation by acquiring Oakland Athletics slugger Matt Olson and signing him for eight years and $168 million. Freeman ended up with the Los Angeles Dodgers and signed for six years and $162 million. During the introductory press conference, the first baseman acknowledged that he always believed he would complete his career with the Braves.

The Minnesota Twins surprised fans by acquiring former Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa for three years and $105.3 million. His stay could be short, as the Puerto Rican will be eligible to opt-out of his contract in each of the first two seasons. But Correa promised to help bring "a championship culture" to the Twins, who have lost 18 consecutive postseason games since 2004.

In other news in the NL West, Bob Melvin is the new manager of the San Diego Padres, leading Fernando Tatis Jr. and company after 11 years in Oakland.

PUJOLS RETURNS TO ST. LOUIS FOR HIS LAST BALL

The Cardinals reunited Dominican Albert Pujols with Puerto Rico's Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright in what could be the farewell for the trio that won the 2006 World Series with St. Louis. Both Molina and Pujols said they will play their final season. Wainwright hinted that he could also retire after 2022. After a decade with the two Los Angeles teams, Pujols, 42, returned to St. Louis by signing for one season and $2.5 million.

Un día como hoy, en el 2001, Albert Pujols conectó su primer HR en uniforme de los Cardenales. 🙌 ¡El tiempo vuela! pic.twitter.com/Np46npiWKc

— LasMayores (@LasMayores) April 6, 2022

INDIANS RENAMED CLEVELAND GUARDIANS

Cleveland will begin using a new name and logo this season, becoming the Guardians after years of controversy over the name, which was considered offensive by many of the country's ethnic minorities. They will play their first official game as the Guardians on Thursday when Shane Bieber will likely take the mound against the Kansas City Royals. Their first home game will be on April 15 against San Francisco.

CHANGE OF RULES

Major League Baseball's new collective bargaining agreement brought with it several changes that fans will quickly notice. The most noteworthy change is the designated hitter will be adopted full-time by the National League. They also expanded the postseason from 10 to 12 teams and the top two teams in each league will have a bye week. There will be a best-of-three-game wild card round to replace the old one-game format.

Automatic runners in extra innings will be retained for one more season due to player health concerns in a condensed 162-game season. The rule automatically places a ballplayer on second base for each team at the start of each inning after the ninth. One change that could please fans: umpires will have microphones and will have to explain decisions after reviewing the video.

This is the latest news for the new season that starts with 30 teams fighting to lift the trophy, which for now, is in the museum of the Atlanta Braves. New stories will be written as soon as they say "play ball."