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MLB's Looming Labor Dispute Casts Shadow Over New Season
As the league and players union negotiate a new CBA, the specter of a potential 2027 lockout hangs over the start of the new baseball season.
Mar. 28, 2026 at 9:54am
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As a new MLB season begins, the real drama may take place off the field, as the league and players union negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement before the current one expires in December 2026. With the threat of a lockout looming, both sides are digging in on key issues like a potential salary cap and floor, which could lead to another contentious work stoppage similar to the 1994-95 strike.
Why it matters
A prolonged work stoppage could dampen the momentum baseball has built in recent years, threatening the sport's growing popularity and appeal to younger fans. The outcome of these negotiations will have major implications for the game's future, including whether active MLB players will be able to participate in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The details
The current CBA expires on December 1, 2026, and both MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer have suggested a lockout is likely. The owners are expected to push for a salary cap, while the players want a mechanism to force lower-spending teams to increase payroll. The transition in MLBPA leadership, with Tony Clark stepping down and Meyer taking over, is not expected to significantly impact the union's negotiating position.
- The current CBA expires on December 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.
- The 2028 Summer Olympics, which will feature baseball, are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles.
The players
Rob Manfred
The Commissioner of Major League Baseball, who has suggested a lockout would be a 'positive' for the league's leverage in CBA negotiations.
Bruce Meyer
The interim executive director of the MLB Players Association, who is leading the union's CBA negotiations.
Tony Clark
The former executive director of the MLBPA, who stepped down from his position shortly before the start of the 2026 season.
What they’re saying
“'A lockout is all but guaranteed at the end of the agreement. The league has pretty much said that.'”
— Bruce Meyer, Acting Executive Director, MLB Players Association
“'There is leverage associated with an offseason lockout and the process of collective bargaining under the NLRA works based on leverage.'”
— Rob Manfred, Commissioner, Major League Baseball
“'If we're in a situation where games are being missed in '27, that could have an impact on playing the Olympics after that. If we don't have a season, we're not going to play in the Olympics.'”
— Bruce Meyer, Acting Executive Director, MLB Players Association
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
The upcoming CBA negotiations between MLB and the players union could determine the future direction of the sport, with the threat of a damaging work stoppage looming. Both sides will have to find a way to balance the interests of high-spending teams, low-spending teams, and the players themselves, all while keeping the game's growing momentum and popularity intact.
