MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on lockout: 'It's not a good thing for the sport'

Per MLB Trade Rumors' Anthony Franco, the league was not "under a mandate" to lock the players out, as even without a CBA, the offseason could've proceeded with trades and free agency signings. The last two winters without a CBA were in 1993-1994 and during the player's strike of 1994-1995, but offseason business still proceeded.

"There’s been little expectation MLB wouldn’t institute a lockout once this CBA expired, however. Locking out in the absence of an agreement has become the typical practice in other professional sports leagues, as management hasn’t wanted to afford players the choice whether to go on strike at a later date," Franco wrote. "The players eventually went on strike during the 1994 season, for example, spurred on by ownership’s imposition of a salary cap. The sides didn’t reach a new agreement that year, and that season’s World Series was ultimately cancelled."

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, one of the items that Manfred brought up on Thursday morning was that the union was seeking a $100 million reduction in revenue sharing.

Evan Drellich reported that Manfred said that no upcoming meetings are currently scheduled with the MLBPA, but he holds optimism.