Main Story: MLB owners are expected to lock out players when the collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, with a salary cap the central sticking point. A lockout would freeze major-league transactions and shut players on 40-man rosters out of team facilities. The shutdown could disrupt the offseason and, if prolonged, threaten the 2027 season—but the financial stakes give both sides reason to reach a deal.

By the Numbers
  • The current CBA expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1.
  • The forthcoming lockout would be MLB’s 10th modern-era labor stoppage: 5 strikes and 5 lockouts.
  • A lockout that costs at least 60 games could extend national broadcast and streaming contracts by 1 year, through 2029.
  • A new CBA is expected to cover the 2027–31 seasons.
Yes, But

Owners say a lockout could speed negotiations by applying leverage, but the last lockout began in 2021 and lasted until March 2022. The union considers a salary cap a nonstarter, while owners argue for one; however, both sides have shown potential common ground on sharing local revenues. Minor-league baseball is expected to continue because most minor leaguers are not on 40-man rosters and have a separate CBA.

State of Play
  • The salary cap is the main obstacle; owners have not backed away from pursuing one, and players remain opposed.
  • Other potential bargaining issues include revenue sharing, free agency, arbitration, minimum salary, schedule length, postseason format and roster rules.
  • Teams may rush to complete signings and trades before the lockout, or hold back until the next financial system is clear.
What’s Next

If the lockout begins, major-league transactions stop. A lengthy shutdown could jeopardize winter meetings and the Rule 5 Draft, delay salary-arbitration milestones, and put spring training and regular-season games at risk. The league has a strong financial incentive to settle before a 60-game loss pushes broadcast-contract extensions into the future.

Bottom Line

The central question is whether owners and players can find a compromise on baseball’s financial structure before the dispute reaches the 2027 season. The longer the standoff lasts, the more both sides risk losing the revenue they are negotiating over.