Major League Baseball locked out its players early Thursday morning, signifying the league's first work stoppage since 1990 after months of talks yielded little progress toward a new labor agreement.

Rob Manfred expressed disappointment in the lockout but said he believes it is "the best mechanism to protect the 2022 season."

During a lockout, team officials and players cannot communicate in any way.

Major League free agency and trades of players on 40-man rosters end immediately. There was a flurry of deals struck before the labor deadline.

The MLBPA also issued a statement early Thursday morning, calling the lockout "a dramatic measure, regardless of the timing."