Resolution Criteria

The critical deadline for potential game cancellations is early to mid-March 2027, when spring training must conclude to allow for a full regular season. Resolution will be determined by the number of regular-season games missed due to a lockout or player strike:

• 0 games missed: Full 162-game season is played

• 1–15 games missed: Minor disruption (games rescheduled or season shortened slightly)

• 16–60 games missed: Major disruption (significant portion of season affected)

• 61+ games missed / season canceled: Severe disruption or complete cancellation

Resolution will be based on official MLB announcements regarding games canceled or lost due to labor action. Check MLB.com for official statements on game cancellations.

Background

The current collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1, 2026. MLB is pushing for a salary cap, which owners regard as necessary while the MLBPA views it as unacceptable. It is widely expected that the sides will not reach a new deal before the CBA expires, and MLB would immediately implement a lockout to freeze the 2026-27 offseason.

Recent precedent: The 2021-22 lockout resulted in the cancellation of the first two series of the regular season, but MLB and the MLBPA reached an agreement on March 10, 2022, salvaging the full 162-game season. However, the 1994-95 strike canceled 938 games and the entire 1994 postseason, including the World Series.

Considerations

Owners have not yet decided whether they will pursue a salary cap as aggressively as they did in 1994, when the union's refusal led to the World Series cancellation, but players are preparing for it and plan to refuse any such proposal. MLB insiders predict a work stoppage is likely, with bitterness between the sides boiling over earlier than usual due to lack of concrete negotiations.

This description was generated by AI.