MLB still allowed transactions in early 1990
As a result, in January of 1990, MLB transactions still were still taking place, unlike the 2021-2022 offseason we are in now.
In fact, some fairly big moves happened from January to March of 1990. The Atlanta Braves signed 21-year MLB veteran Darrell Evans to a contract (but he never played in the majors again). The Detroit Tigers signed first baseman Cecil Fielder to a free agent deal after he spent a season in Japan. In 1990, he ended up coming in second in AL MVP voting.
Among many other moves, future Hall of Famer Gary Carter officially left the New York Mets and signed with the San Francisco Giants. The Giants also signed former All-Star closer Dan Quisenberry to a deal. Former All-Star pitcher Dan Petry signed with the Detroit Tigers for his second stint with the team. Former All-Star pitcher John Candelaria signed with the Minnesota Twins.
But stakes were still high in the 1990 labor negotiations.
The main topics of discussion included free agency, arbitration, and revenue sharing.
For free agency, in the late 1980s, it was determined that MLB owners were colluding with each other to suppress salaries. That was determined by two separate arbitrators. A prime example of this was with former All-Star and MVP candidate Andre Dawson. The future Hall of Famer took a pay cut of more than 50 percent in 1987 when he had to give a blank check to the Chicago Cubs to play for them. He won the 1987 NL MVP Award.