It seems that baseball is heading toward another battle over a salary cap in MLB. Owners and players will have to sit down again in a year and a half to negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The last negotiations don’t bring back many joyful memories, as the sport was locked out for more than three months.
Commissioner Rob Manfred stated a few months ago that he expects another work stoppage after the 2026 season. The salary cap and the international draft are likely to be the key topics in the next round of negotiations.
«I think we’ve made progress,» said Manfred on Mad Dog’s show on SiriusXM. «I don’t think we’re done, but we are continuing an ongoing process. What I will try to convince the players of is that the most important thing in sports is growth. We have real momentum, and we are at a really important moment in our history.»
The current CBA will expire in December 2026. If MLB and the MLBPA don’t reach an agreement by then, another work stoppage could occur. This will be the last time Rob Manfred participates in the process, as he has already announced his retirement after the 2028 season.
«We can do great things», Manfred said to Mad Dog. «I can continue to regard the best game in the world»
During the interview, the baseball commissioner also stated that the Athletics did a great job remodeling Sacramento’s ballpark. «There is a ton of excitement that there is baseball in Sacramento,» he said.
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Almost every game in Sacramento will be played at night due to the intense heat. MLB and the A’s installed a special grass system to help keep the players as cool as possible. However, Rob Manfred stated that if the A’s reach the World Series, they won’t play there. «Maybe a playoff round,» he said. «We’ll see.»
