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.

[2] The Rays finished in third place in their division, qualifying for the playoffs as the final wild card in the American League.

[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.