MLB’s 2027 season threatened with lockout looming when labor deal expires Dec. 1
While just 148 days remain until the start of the 2027 season, owners have proposed a salary cap for the first time since their 1994 plan led to a 7 1/2-month strike.
Major League Baseball's 2027 season is under threat of a potential lockout as the current labor deal expires on December 1, 2026. This marks the first time since 1994 that owners have proposed a salary cap, a move that could lead to another free-agent frenzy and the cancellation of the World Series. Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed his reluctance to engage in deadline-driven bargaining, but the sides have been negotiating since May without reaching a consensus.
The owners argue that a cap would benefit the majority of players who make close to the minimum, while the players insist on expanded free agency, salary arbitration rights, and a higher minimum wage. With about 40% of players on 40-man rosters having less than one year of major league service, the union argues that the current system allows players to realize their economic worth.
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