On December 2, 2021, Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred announced a lockout of players, following expiration of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the league and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA).

On March 10, 2022, MLB and the MLBPA agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement, thus ending the lockout.

[3] As a result, the team owners voted unanimously to lockout the players stopping all free agency and trades.

The National League will adopt the designated hitter full-time, a draft lottery will be implemented, the postseason will expand from ten teams to twelve, and advertising patches will appear on player uniforms and helmets for the first time.

The Reds let their outfielder Nick Castellanos sign with the Philadelphia Phillies[9][10] and placed starting pitcher Wade Miley on waivers and was picked up by the Chicago Cubs.

The Reds traded pitcher Amir Garrett to the Kansas City Royals,[12] starting pitcher Sonny Gray to the Minnesota Twins,[13] catcher Tucker Barnhart to the Detroit Tigers,[14] and both infielder Eugenio Suárez and outfielder Jesse Winker to the Seattle Mariners.