MLB, MLBPA Hold 2025 Preliminary Meeting on Labor Issues

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have started laying the groundwork for their next collective bargaining negotiations. They recently held a preliminary meeting to figure out each side’s economic priorities.

True bargaining is still a few years away. Still, these early talks already hint at the tough issues that’ll shape the sport’s next labor agreement.

The session, first reported by Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic, brought together MLB’s Dan Halem and MLBPA’s Bruce Meyer. The meeting highlighted both the distance and underlying tension between the league and its players.

Early Steps Toward Negotiations

The current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) runs through December 1, 2026. Both the league and the players union seem eager to set the stage for future talks.

This recent meeting wasn’t an official bargaining session. Instead, it gave each side a chance to share their economic perspectives and flag early points of friction.

Early contact like this doesn’t happen all that often. It’s a sign both parties really get how much is at stake in the next deal.

Why Talks Are Starting Now

Even though negotiations are years off, these early discussions let both sides take each other’s temperature. Halem and Meyer exchanged broad ideas without getting bogged down in the details that usually slow things down later.

This kind of approach might set the tone for formal talks in spring 2026, when everyone will have to dig into the specifics.

Expected Challenges Ahead

Most industry observers expect the upcoming negotiations to be tough. Many think the two sides will have a hard time reaching an agreement before the current CBA expires.

The main sticking point? Long-standing disagreements over the league’s economic structure—especially the idea of a salary cap. MLB’s owners have pushed for stricter spending limits, while the MLBPA has firmly rejected anything they see as restricting player earnings.

The Salary Cap Debate

The salary cap is always a hot topic in baseball labor talks. In the NFL and NBA, salary caps are standard—they let owners limit payroll and, in theory, promote competitive balance.

But in MLB, the players union sees a cap as unfair and unnecessary. The union’s argued that the luxury tax already acts like a soft cap without capping individual player contracts.

Given this history, it’s pretty likely the MLBPA will treat any hard cap proposal as a non-starter.

Possible Lockout Scenario

The threat of a work stoppage hangs over these early talks. If there’s no new deal by December 1, 2026, MLB will probably impose an immediate lockout.

This tactic, used in the 2021–22 offseason, lets owners control when and how a work stoppage happens. They’d rather risk it in the offseason than during the regular season.

Commissioner Rob Manfred has already hinted that offseason lockouts could become the norm in future disputes.

Commissioner’s Influence

Manfred’s leadership style points to MLB taking a proactive approach if negotiations break down. By starting a lockout before the season, the league hopes to pressure the union into concessions while avoiding schedule chaos.

But there’s a real risk here. Moves like this could alienate fans and deepen distrust between the two sides, especially if a lockout drags into spring training. It’s hard to say how that would play out—or if anyone really wins in the end.

Key Takeaways for Fans

These talks are just getting started, but the issues surfacing already hint at a major showdown in 2026. If you’ve followed recent labor disputes, some warning signs might feel awfully familiar.

• The current CBA expires on December 1, 2026. Formal negotiations are set to kick off in the spring of that year.
• MLB ownership keeps pushing for a salary cap, but the players union isn’t having it.
• A lockout seems likely if they can’t reach a deal before the deadline. That’s how things have gone lately.
• Both sides know what’s at stake and started early. Still, the gap on economic issues is wide.

It’s tough to say how much these early talks will matter down the line, but they could end up shaping how the big negotiations play out. Fans and folks around the sport are going to keep a close eye on this—after all, whatever happens at that table could shake up rosters, payrolls, and maybe even the whole vibe of the game for years.

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