NEW YORK, NY — Prepare for a long winter and wait towards the 2027 Major League Baseball season. Yes, the looming lockout is probable as owners and players are gearing towards a shutdown of the game.

Negotiations if any are left at the table are all about that new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

And as that lockout looms on December 1st, with the Thanksgiving holiday in two weeks, there is the offseason business of 30 teams acquiring players via the market of a trade or signing in free agency.

It’s an ongoing business now because of the uncertainty. 

Randy Arozarena, one of a few marquee names in this year’s free agency market, recorded a clip of .281/.381/.484 (.865 OPS) to go with 26 homers, 34 doubles, two triples, 79 RBI and 26 stolen bases in 2026 with the Mariners – Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports

Rosters then will be in a frozen zone. Players not permitted at team facilities for offseason training or medicals with general managers and team personnel in a holding pattern. Ticket sales for 2027 at a standstill as players’ contracts stand in limbo. The official website of MLB and the league’s app will go dormant with bios and stats of players dark. 

And the 2027 season could have a much shorter schedule, even squashed depending on the severity of a long lockout which hurts the sport coming off a historic 2026. 

“No way players will acquiesce to a salary cap, there will be a lockout,” a highly reputed National League team executive explained to me Thursday as he departed the GM meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also explained the other major issue is a proper share of television revenue with regional networks owned by teams and MLB which is another stumbling block.

“No team is losing money,” he said. “They are all making money. You spend money, you make money with the playoffs and that increases the value of a franchise.” He cited the recent Padres sale of ownership for a MLB-record $3.9 billion dollars by José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones. “One owner said ‘it’s one of the best investments to make, not one franchise is losing.'”

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, union officials have said players would lose more than $1 billion over the life of MLB’s recent proposal if they agreed to a cap, reflecting the chasm between the parties that could lead to a prolonged work stoppage – Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports

Essentially, it’s not what we want to hear, but a lockout is inevitable and that comes from those knowing more about the status of an attempt at agreeing to a new CBA. It’s complex and both sides, owners and the MLBPA, are stubborn towards a salary cap as the major stumbling block.

So most of the offseason business will intensify. The GM meetings in Las Vegas concluded this week, so with that possible trades and free agent signings may be more common now than when the annual winter meetings, expected to get cancelled, would be held early next month.

Managerial slots are getting filled including the Astros hiring Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus as coaching staff dismissals, replacements and changes in the hierarchy of front office personnel are at a rapid pace. The undetermined labor situation has owners and players looking at three small market teams, the Brewers, Rays, Guardians—who each played in this year’s League Championship Series—further widening the gap towards a new CBA.

A look at the combined payrolls for the last 10 World Series matchups pic.twitter.com/Uq8jaziHFE

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 23, 2026

However, it’s business as usual and waiting to determine the next move for ace Tarik Skubal, a contract projected with a high investment and also significant before the new CBA is in place. Six teams reportedly have scheduled meetings with the American League Cy Young Award winner from 2024 and 2025, including the Mets, Dodgers, Blue Jays and Padres. 

The big splash coming from Las Vegas Thursday was former Dodgers right-handed reliever Evan Phillips signing a three-year deal for $35 million with Atlanta. 

 As the Braves bullpen gets stronger with the move, Phillips’ contract is not affected when the new CBA is in place.

Welcome back to #BravesCountry, @EvanPhillips36! pic.twitter.com/NEbhgVBdYy

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) November 12, 2026

And while teams are seeking pitching more, because of the minimal amount of position players available, expect one year deals as opposed to long term. The opinion coming from other higher-ups is that contracts occur prior to the lockout because the labor unrest puts everything in a quagmire.

Makes sense more in baseball terms because it’s become that game of pitching, lack of defense, and somewhat of a few teams with a potent offense. Numbers of strikeouts increased in 2026, walks were more, home runs and situational hitting decreased. Low market budgeted teams like the World Champion Brewers and AL champion Rays played small ball to their advantage with productive pitching staffs.

MLB’s proposal for 2028—a cap ($258.2 million) & floor ($180.2 million)—using luxury tax payrolls and average annual values has both sides wide apart. Teams could remain as low as 90 percent of the floor in 2028 and spend the remainder of that amount over the next three years. Confusing as it is, no economist could attempt to define the disparity of arguments on both sides.

With free agency already underway, and recognizing that Clubs will need a full offseason to operate within the cap and floor system, MLB is proposing to phase in the salary cap and floor in 2028

The projected cap and floor payrolls for 2028 would make 12 clubs increase payroll… pic.twitter.com/EfMErTa1Jo

— MLB (@MLB) November 3, 2026

Yes, it is about economics. Players want their share and demand to protect a future for a younger core of players that would benefit much more than they do now. Agents including the top dog Scott Boras of course don’t want a cap.

But baseball fans don’t want to hear this as the countdown gets close to a lockout with a 2027 season to be determined. 

What’s The Latest Buzz? 

And business continues as pitchers Freddy Peralta and Michael King and position players Luis Arráez, Randy Arozarena and Jazz Chisholm Jr. each await their next call, many of those marquee names available in this year’s market.

GM’s are reporting to their owners and conducting business earlier, they too are in that nightmare of a quagmire. Expect more free agent signings perhaps and lack of trades.

Presenting the best free agents by position!

Where do you think these guys land? 👀 pic.twitter.com/GGamrN5ANx

— MLB (@MLB) November 8, 2026

So here are some of the players and talk that I received coming from the GM meetings, with a hot stove heating up over the next few weeks.

The Rays intend to spend, and are expected to retain ace Drew Rasmussen, a catalyst to their rotation, reportedly on a $20 million contract. He will be a free agent after the 2027 season, whenever that be. Tampa Bay will also try to re-sign pitcher Nick Martinez, a clubhouse leader of theirs who had a one-year/$15 million deal for 2026.

The Padres and Red Sox are discussing a possible trade that includes outfielder Jarren Duran headed to San Diego.

Jarren Duran could be one of the more intriguing outfielders available on MLB’s trade market this offseason as the Red Sox have reportedly made the former All-Star available – Image Credit: Amber Douglas Rodriguez/Latino Sports

Japanese third base slugger Teruaki Sato is on the open market and so is Alec Bohm at 30-years of age who is coming off a bad year with the Phillies (.249 batting average with 15 HRs). He has been discussed as a right handed hitting option at third base for the Yankees or across town with the Mets for their needed position player at first base.

Other names are in the mix, at this juncture all under discussion as they went their separate ways from Vegas.

Regardless, we are in a holding pattern, a ride with rumors and activity. A lockout is surely to occur, the 2027 season truncated or scrapped. The question on it all is when do we play ball again?

Rich Mancuso is a senior writer for Latino Sports, who covers Major League Baseball (MLB), Boxing, and Major League Soccer (MLS). You can follow him on X/Twitter @Ring786 and to stay in the know on all boxing, watch Rich’s weekly show, Keep It In The Ring, available on his Youtube channel. 

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