MLB, union preparing for lockout
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Major League Baseball, along with the players' union, fully expects to have a lockout on its hands. The current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires in December 2026, and both sides are already indicating that a work stoppage could be on the horizon.
MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark recently pointed to comments made by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred as signs that a strike or lockout may be inevitable - though Manfred has softened his stance somewhat in recent weeks. Previously, Manfred even described the prospect of a lockout as a "good thing."
Unless I am mistaken, the league has come out and said there's going to be a work stoppage. So, I don't think I'm speaking out of school in that regard. - MLBPAExecutive Director Tony Clark.
At the centre of these looming labour negotiations is the ongoing debate over a salary cap. While formal talks would typically begin about a year before the current CBA expires, there are indications that discussions may have already started - more than two years in advance. This early start suggests that the upcoming negotiations could be particularly contentious.
Several owners - including Orioles owner David Rubenstein - have publicly voiced support for implementing a salary cap. With player salaries skyrocketing in recent years, it's no surprise that smaller market teams like Baltimore would favour such a system to help level the playing field.
The most recent lockout took place during the 2021-2022 offseason. While that dispute lasted 99 days, it ultimately didn't cost any regular season games. In total, MLB has experienced eight work stoppages - all occurring between 1972 and 1995.
The 2021 lockout ended 26 years of labour peace, a stretch overseen by former Commissioner Bud Selig. Manfred's inability to maintain that streak highlighted the growing tensions between the league and the players' union - tensions that could lead to an even larger fight in 2026.
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