The potential for a work stoppage in baseball in 2027 is looming as the league and its players union's collective bargaining agreement expires in December. Bruce Meyer, the acting executive director of the MLB Players Association, stated that a lockout is all but certain. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred suggested a lockout during the offseason would be beneficial due to leverage. However, there have been nine previous stoppages in MLB history, and no two are quite alike. The key date for a potential work-stoppage is Dec. 1, 2026. Some owners believe a solution is instituting a salary cap to curb excessive spending at the top. Players argue that high-end spending isn't the issue, but the issue is teams that are not.