MLB memo reveals lockout plans: League will scrub website, ban contact with trainers

[u/TheAthletic]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7670102/2026/10/07/mlb-memo-lockout-plans-teams-players-ban-contact/?unlocked_article_code=1.HFE.MLAw.oo5FFHGPAPWs&source=emp_shared_article&smid=re-share-ta

[u/ProSenjutsu]

I find it interesting the owners want to implement a cap based of a certain % of revenue but some revenue like the Dodgers 300mil media deal isn’t included in the revenue sharing. I see a long lockout incoming

[u/TheUltimate721 → u/ProSenjutsu]

Because Manfred plans to pool the media rights of most of the league next year and long term he wants to get the entire league's rights pooled like the NFL, NBA, college conferences, etc.

[u/smoresporn0 → u/TheUltimate721]

That's good. Media revenue should be split evenly.

[u/iceoldtea → u/smoresporn0]

Absolutely benefits the parity of the league, which is why the top franchises of the league have let the sport wither so they can stay on top

[u/Doyle1524 → u/iceoldtea]

and yet all the teams still remaining except 1 are at the bottom of the payroll rankings. I'd argue baseball has some of the best parity over the last two decades when it comes to champions. Not saying changes don't need to be made, but it's not near as bad as people act like it is

[u/TheUltimate721 → u/Doyle1524]

All but two champions since 2016 have had Top Ten payrolls, and more importantly, all have been from huge markets.

2016 Cubs - 4th

2017 Astros - 17th*

2018 Red Sox - 1st*

2019 Nationals - 6th

2020 Dodgers - 6th

2021 Braves - 11th

2022 Astros - 9th

2023 Rangers - 8th

2024 Dodgers - 1st

2025 Dodgers - 1st

Asterisk means they cheated

If either the Rays or Brewers win it will not only be their first championships, it will be the first small market championship since we won in 2015.

[u/DNouncerDuane]

Sucks. Baseball is my favorite sport, ultimately. But it’s the epitome of a great American institution that has been slowly choked out by another American tradition: greed. In a sad way, it’s fitting.

[u/bobone77]

I’ve been called a doomer on this topic, but my bet is that there’s no 2027 season.

[u/Vixxxed → u/bobone77]

The likelihood is so so so incredibly low neither side wants that.

[u/angrylawnguy]

r/aabaseball . They'll still be playing.

[u/amazingtaters → u/angrylawnguy]

Yeah, thinking I'm going to be starting off next baseball season getting my fix from Chicagoland's AAPB and NAPB teams. Dogs, Railcats, Boomers, Slammers, Cougars, and Thunderbolts. Hell, I could probably go to a game at all six of them for the cost of a single trip to Wrigley.

[u/The_Raigar]

This is going to be way more messy, and way more interesting than I think anyone is giving it credit for. It's going to be fascinating to see where the agreements end up