I know that a lot of people – fans and media – are shouting about the sky falling on major-league baseball around a year from now, when the owners and players’ association open negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement.
It’s almost certain that the owners will lock out the players next offseason, which is a standard practice in these situations. The two sides would still have plenty of time to cut a deal before 2026 spring training, or perhaps late in spring training. There’s a lot of anxiety about a potential labor melee that could shut MLB down and cause the sport to miss regular-season games.
I’m trying to be somewhat optimistic here, and I am probably more hopeful than most observers. MLB is rolling with momentum. All of the popularity indicators are thriving, from paid attendance to local TV ratings, to national TV ratings, and an increased presence on streaming platforms.