MLB Lockout Timeline: Key Dates and Next Steps After 2026 World Series

Major League Baseball is on the brink of a work stoppage, with a lockout expected to begin shortly after the 2026 World Series concludes. The current collective bargaining agreement between team owners and the MLB Players Association is set to expire on December 1, 2026. Without a new deal, owners are widely expected to impose a lockout, freezing all transactions and player activities. This would be the first work stoppage since the 2021-22 lockout that delayed the start of the 2022 season. Key dates to watch include the expiration of the CBA, the start of the lockout, and the deadline for spring training to begin on time in February 2027. The core issues are expected to mirror past disputes: competitive balance tax thresholds, revenue sharing, service time manipulation, and the league's minimum salary. Both sides have expressed a desire to avoid a prolonged stoppage, but significant gaps remain. The outcome will shape the future of the sport, from free agency rules to the expansion of the postseason. Fans and players alike will be watching closely as negotiations intensify in the coming months.