Not so long ago, the Milwaukee Brewers were crowned World Series champions, and at the moment of the last out, the 2026-27 Major League offseason began. So let's talk about that. The winter ahead is one shot through with uncertainty, as labor strife figures to roil the sport and perhaps even compromise the 2027 season.
Those matters, vital as they are, won't be the only story, and we'll still have the familiar presences of free agency and trade talk to sustain us. To set the scene for all that's ahead in advance of the 2027 campaign – good, ill, or somewhere in the middle – we're here to take a look at the five questions that will inform an offseason that's going to be quite unusual and – for good, ill, or somewhere in the middle – probably unforgettable. Let's explore those five queries right now … The current collective bargaining agreement – or CBA, the accord that governs the working relationship between clubs/owners and players – is set to expire at 11:59 p.m.
ET on Dec. 1 of this year. At that time, MLB owners are all but certain to lock out the players. That's a labor stoppage, and that means the offseason will be brought to a sudden halt.
The lockout, the purpose of which is to preempt a players' strike, will last until a new CBA is agreed to. Agreeing to a new CBA will be no simple matter, and owners and their hireling, commissioner Rob Manfred, are pushing for a cap on team payrolls. The players, as represented by their union, the MLBPA, have never shown any willingness to agree to a cap-and-floor system.
There are a lot of other issues to iron out, as the CBA is an all-encompassing document, but the fight over a cap will be what drags out the lockout. The heart of the matter is whether the lockout will last long enough to push back, abbreviate, or – perish the thought – cancel entirely the 2027 season. The latter is the worst-case scenario and is highly unlikely, but it's a possibility, however remote.
More of a threat is a 2027 season that doesn't span the usual 162 games. We have a recent precedent to guide us. The last time the CBA was up for negotiation during the offseason of 2021-22, owners locked out the players for 99 days.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
