- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,267,304
- Reaction score
- 59
The word “lockout” brings fear to fans of sports. The definition states, “the exclusion of employees by their employer from their place of work until certain terms are agreed to.” When baseball fans hear lockout, they automatically assume the worst, and rightfully so.
Major League Baseball and the MLBPA are heading towards the sport’s first potential lockout since 2021-2022 and the worst-case scenario since the canceled 1994 postseason. However, the MLB can avoid a lockout in 2027 if these two things happen.
MORE: Major League Baseball releases 2026 playoff schedule
Dec 8, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks with the media during the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings at Signia by Hilton Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
The fact that MLB has no salary cap makes the sport different from the three other North American sports. Teams are free to spend as much, or as little, as they want. Is it fair to small market teams and their fan bases? No, but there is a deeper argument that can be made regarding drafting players, signing international talent, and developing players in the minor leagues.
Talk of a salary cap immediately turns off the MLBPA and the 30 owners. Players want the freedom to sign wherever they would like, and no business owner wants to be told how they can run and control their business.
Teams that spend money, or are reluctant to, should not be crucified in any way. For instance, the Los Angeles Dodgers have gone above and beyond to field a winning team. They didn’t do anything the other 29 teams couldn’t do. The only difference is the Dodgers’ ownership loves to win and will spend all means necessary to add World Series Championships to their trophy case.
Punishing a team, or preventing them from spending an astronomical amount, has no valid reason. On the contrary, there should be a reciprocal effect. Not in terms of punishment, but asking other owners and front offices why they do not want to spend on talent. In the end, all 30 Major League Baseball teams are making a profit each season.
MORE: Most dangerous MLB team right now isn’t even in a playoff spot
This should be front and center in all negotiations for a new CBA. Over the past 20 years, how many people have witnessed Mike Trout in his prime? The answer is not as many as there should have been.
Yes, there can be blame placed on the Angels’ inability to support Trout with talent around him, but Major League Baseball failed to make him the face of the league. Before a plethora of injuries, Mike Trout was on his way to being one of the most decorated MLB players of all time. Now, it will take a move from Los Angeles to get Trout into the playoffs.
This season alone, there are numerous players that the league should be promoting not named Shohei Ohtani. Chicago’s Pete Crow-Armstrong, New York’s Cam Schlittler, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, and Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski are front-runners for their league’s top awards and should be receiving constant promotion by MLB.
How about the glaring elephant in the room? Tampa Bay and Milwaukee are smaller markets and have one of the game’s best hitters and pitchers on their rosters. If Major League Baseball promotes its brightest stars, the game will grow internationally as well as on the national stage.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —
Continue reading...
Major League Baseball and the MLBPA are heading towards the sport’s first potential lockout since 2021-2022 and the worst-case scenario since the canceled 1994 postseason. However, the MLB can avoid a lockout in 2027 if these two things happen.
MORE: Major League Baseball releases 2026 playoff schedule
Do not punish teams that spend
You must be registered for see images attach
Dec 8, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks with the media during the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings at Signia by Hilton Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
The fact that MLB has no salary cap makes the sport different from the three other North American sports. Teams are free to spend as much, or as little, as they want. Is it fair to small market teams and their fan bases? No, but there is a deeper argument that can be made regarding drafting players, signing international talent, and developing players in the minor leagues.
Talk of a salary cap immediately turns off the MLBPA and the 30 owners. Players want the freedom to sign wherever they would like, and no business owner wants to be told how they can run and control their business.
Teams that spend money, or are reluctant to, should not be crucified in any way. For instance, the Los Angeles Dodgers have gone above and beyond to field a winning team. They didn’t do anything the other 29 teams couldn’t do. The only difference is the Dodgers’ ownership loves to win and will spend all means necessary to add World Series Championships to their trophy case.
Punishing a team, or preventing them from spending an astronomical amount, has no valid reason. On the contrary, there should be a reciprocal effect. Not in terms of punishment, but asking other owners and front offices why they do not want to spend on talent. In the end, all 30 Major League Baseball teams are making a profit each season.
MORE: Most dangerous MLB team right now isn’t even in a playoff spot
Better promotion of MLB talent
This should be front and center in all negotiations for a new CBA. Over the past 20 years, how many people have witnessed Mike Trout in his prime? The answer is not as many as there should have been.
Yes, there can be blame placed on the Angels’ inability to support Trout with talent around him, but Major League Baseball failed to make him the face of the league. Before a plethora of injuries, Mike Trout was on his way to being one of the most decorated MLB players of all time. Now, it will take a move from Los Angeles to get Trout into the playoffs.
This season alone, there are numerous players that the league should be promoting not named Shohei Ohtani. Chicago’s Pete Crow-Armstrong, New York’s Cam Schlittler, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, and Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski are front-runners for their league’s top awards and should be receiving constant promotion by MLB.
How about the glaring elephant in the room? Tampa Bay and Milwaukee are smaller markets and have one of the game’s best hitters and pitchers on their rosters. If Major League Baseball promotes its brightest stars, the game will grow internationally as well as on the national stage.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —
Continue reading...
