MLB players increase potential war chest to $415 million ahead of bargaining
Big league baseball players increased their potential war chest of cash and investments ahead of collective bargaining to $415 million heading into 2026, up from $284 million at the start of 2025, according to the union's annual federal disclosure form filed Tuesday. The Major League Baseball Players Association had $222. 1 million in U.
S. Treasury securities, $155. 5 million in other investments and $37.
4 million in cash as of Dec. 31. The union executive board has withheld 100% of licensing money due players for 2024 and 2025 to prepare for bargaining to replace the current labor contract, which expires on Dec.
1. That money could be disbursed to players during a work stoppage. Each five-year cycle of the collective bargaining contract sees the war chest grow and money not already distributed sent to players after a labor deal was reached.
The total of cash, Treasury securities and investments was $142 million at the end of 2022 and $201 million at the end of 2023. Total assets, including receivables and fixed assets such as furniture and computer equipment, rose to $519 million from $353 million at the end of 2024. Major League Baseball also is accumulating cash ahead of bargaining, about $75 million per club in withheld central fund distributions, a person familiar with the action told The Associated Press.