MLB, players' union hold first meeting in new labor war. Lockout coming?

Yahoo Sports3h ago10 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

MLB and the players' union held their first meeting regarding a new collective bargaining agreement, with a work stoppage possible this winter. The current CBA expires on December 1, raising concerns over a contentious labor battle.

Key points

MLB and players' union held first meeting on new CBA
Current CBA expires on December 1
Potential for a work stoppage this winter
Owners may push for a salary cap
Smaller-market teams express discontent over spending

Mentioned in this story

Major League BaseballMLB Players' Association

Los Angeles DodgersNew York Mets

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players' Association held their first official talks on a new collective bargaining agreement on Tuesday, May 12 in New York with a work stoppage looming this winter, according to a person familiar with the talks.

The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the sides had not announced the meeting.

The current CBA expires on Dec. 1 and the upcoming labor battle could be even more contentious than the 2021-22 lockout that lasted 99 days, pushing back the start of the 2022 season. The meeting Tuesday laid out the opening presentations of each side's positions.

Owners are expected to lobby for a salary cap in the new CBA, an idea that's long been dead-on-arrival for the players union. Discontent has been growing among management as the Los Angeles Dodgers (who have won back-to-back World Series titles) and New York Mets (who have not) spend huge sums of money on player acquisitions, with smaller-market owners claiming their organizations are unable to compete.

MLBPA boss Tony Clark stepped down in February amid a scandal and was replaced on an interim basis by Bruce Meyer, who has served as the union's lead negotiator.

The 2021-22 lockout was baseball's first work stoppage since the 1994-95 strike that resulted in the cancelation of the 1994 World Series.

The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.

Q&A

What is the deadline for the current MLB collective bargaining agreement?

The current collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1.

What are the main issues being discussed in the MLB labor talks?

The main issues include the potential introduction of a salary cap, which the players' union opposes.

How long did the previous MLB lockout last?

The previous MLB lockout lasted 99 days during the 2021-22 season.

Why are smaller-market MLB teams unhappy with current spending trends?

Smaller-market teams are claiming they cannot compete due to the high spending on player acquisitions by teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.