Make the most of Opening Day and the upcoming two seasons because Major League Baseball is rapidly approaching a player lockout. Senior writer for The Athletic and MLB on Fox field reporter Ken Rosenthal appeared on the Awful Announcing Podcast this week to talk about the 2025 season, covering various topics including baseball, Shohei Ohtani, and his relationship with commissioner Rob Manfred. During the discussion, Rosenthal was asked about the likelihood of a lockout once the current collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2026 season.
“Quite high. If I had to put a number on it, I’d say 90 percent,” Rosenthal stated. “This doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll miss games or endure an extended lockout, but the commissioner has previously remarked to Evan (Drellich) that ‘Lockouts can be a good thing, healthy to the process.’ This raises some eyebrows, especially since there’s evident tension mostly driven by owners pushing for a salary cap. While people often say that the owners are determined this time and are prepared to miss games, I worry that we’re hearing these sentiments earlier than ever before. The owners’ fervor for change seems stronger than in past negotiations. However, I find it hard to comprehend why one would jeopardize a $12.1 billion industry. Although there may be some form of labor disruption, I find it difficult to believe they would allow games to be missed.”
As mentioned by Rosenthal, in an earlier interview with Evan Drellich at The Athletic, Manfred remarked that, “In a bizarre way, it’s actually a positive,” regarding the potential for a lockout. This statement, from the 66-year-old nearing his 11th season as commissioner, indeed raises eyebrows. In response to Manfred’s remarks, MLBPA executive director Tony Clark noted that the players are preparing for a possible lockout.
If Manfred is adamant about implementing a salary cap for the owners before concluding his tenure as commissioner, it seems likely the forecasted 2026 lockout could be lengthy. Nevertheless, there’s still a chance the owners will acknowledge the positive developments in the league over recent years and value their $12.1 billion business enough to avoid any games being lost.
Listen to the full episode of the Awful Announcing Podcast starting Friday, March 28, featuring Ken Rosenthal discussing his relationship with Rob Manfred, his departure from MLB Network, working alongside Joe Buck, and more. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. For more content, check out AA’s YouTube page.
