MLB News: Former GM Believes Lockout is not Inevitable
A longtime MLB executive believes that a lockout would be "devastating" to the sport, but it's avoidable.
With the negotiations for Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement looming over the 2026 season, many believe a lockout is likely or even impossible to avoid . Issues like a salary cap and the disparity between big-market and small-market teams seem like daunting obstacles to overcome, but longtime MLB executive Jim Bowden writes for The Athletic that he’s more optimistic. The gates are locked during the MLB lockout delaying spring training at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida on February 22, 2022.
Why Is There Hope a Lockout Can Be Avoided? Bowden believes the sport is in great shape, especially after the electric 2025 World Series and thrilling World Baseball Classic . Amid recent innovations like the pitch clock and Automated Ball-Strike System , baseball is in the midst of a revitalization of the game and growing its audience.
Per Baseball Almanac , the 2024 and 2025 World Series drew an average of about 15. 8 million viewers, well above the 9. 1 million viewers of 2023 and the most since the 18.
7 million viewers of the 2017 Fall Classic. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dodgers Nation (@dodgersnation) Given that momentum, Bowden noted how tough it would be to cancel games. “Major League Baseball has never been in better shape overall and a work stoppage would be devastating to the game and the momentum it presently has,” he wrote.