The first week of December is typically an optimistic time for all 30 Major League Baseball teams because it marks the start of the winter meetings, where club executives and agents discuss potential deals.
There was a storm cloud hanging over this year's meetings, though, with owners and the players' union struggling to agree to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement.
2016 MLB Winter Meetings Schedule
Dates | Location |
Sunday, Dec. 4 to Thursday, Dec. 8 | Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland |
Fortunately, the two sides found the middle ground to keep the two decades of labor peace alive and well.