MLB lockout could trigger winter ‘bloodbath’ as front-office employees and Spring Training staff face job fears Major League Baseball could face another lockout when its current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires on December 1. While players and team owners remain divided over a proposed salary cap, hundreds of people working behind the scenes could also face trouble. Forbes sports business reporter Maury Brown has warned that front-office employees could lose their jobs this winter. The impact may also reach Spring Training staff if the labor dispute delays the 2027 camps. This time, the people facing uncertainty are not just the players negotiating their next contracts.
Maury Brown Warns MLB Lockout Could Put Front-Office Employees and Spring Training Staff at one Risk
Brown raised concerns about the possible impact of the upcoming lockout in a post on X. He warned that employees working across MLB front offices could face layoffs during the winter. He also pointed to the people whose jobs depend on Spring Training taking place as scheduled.“People across the front offices will be laid off this winter. It will also affect folks that work Spring Training,” Brown wrote.His warning comes as MLB and the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) continue talks over a new CBA. If the two sides fail to reach an agreement before the current deal expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on December 1, team owners are expected to impose a lockout on December 2.Such a move would stop most major-league transactions, including free-agent signings and trades involving players on 40-man rosters. That could leave several departments with less work during one of the busiest periods of the baseball calendar.Scouting, player development and baseball operations staff could face uncertainty if the dispute continues. These employees help teams prepare for the next season, but a freeze on major-league transactions could slow down much of that work.The 2021-22 lockout offers an example of how people outside the players’ negotiations can suffer. That dispute lasted 99 days and delayed Spring Training games. Commissioner Rob Manfred had said there were no plans to furlough front-office employees at that point.However, seasonal and part-time workers still faced lost work when Spring Training games were canceled. MLB and the players’ union each announced a $1 million fund to help workers affected by the stoppage. The support covered people such as concession workers, security staff and grounds crews.The upcoming dispute could bring similar problems if it continues into early 2027.MLB has already announced that all 30 teams are scheduled to begin Spring Training games on February 19, 2027. A long lockout could put that date at risk and leave people hired for the camps without their expected work.
MLB Owners Delay Proposed Salary Cap to 2028 as Players Oppose New System
The salary cap remains one of the biggest disagreements between MLB owners and the players’ union. However, the league made a change to its proposal during the latest round of talks on November 3.MLB has now proposed introducing a hard salary cap and floor in 2028 instead of 2027. Under the revised plan, the proposed cap would be $258.2 million, while teams would have to meet a salary floor of $180.2 million.MLB spokesman Glen Caplin said the change would give teams a full offseason to prepare for the new system. The league believes this would avoid major changes to team spending during the ongoing 2026-27 free-agent period.The financial gap between teams is one reason owners are pushing for the system. According to MLB’s estimates, eight teams would need to reduce their combined payrolls by around $528 million to meet the proposed cap. Meanwhile, 12 teams would need to spend an additional $636 million combined to reach the floor.However, the MLBPA remains firmly against introducing a salary cap. The union believes a spending limit could restrict player earnings and weaken the free-agent market. It has also raised concerns about the effect on guaranteed contracts.The latest offer has changed the proposed start date, but it has not resolved the main disagreement. With December 1 approaching, the outcome of these talks will matter to more than the players and owners. Front-office employees and the people who help run Spring Training are also waiting to see whether baseball’s offseason will continue as planned.