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The ninth work stoppage in baseball history became a reality when the collective bargaining agreement expired at midnight, extinguishing the rare flame of what has been a frenzied hot stove season and the big-spending momentum of recent weeks.

MLB and the players’ association now have slightly more than two months to strike a new labor deal without disrupting the planned opening of spring training in February, although Wednesday’s abrupt ending of negotiations clearly doesn’t bode well for a resolution any time ahead of the New Year.

In the past month, we have broken down the expected key issues facing both sides from a financial standpoint.