With lockout looming, the World
Series could be Major League Baseball's last games for a while
[October 23, 2026]
By RONALD BLUM
MILWAUKEE (AP) — On the eve of the World Series, there is a
realization these may be Major League Baseball's last games for a
while.
Owners are pushing for a salary cap, and that could prompt a lockout
starting Dec. 2 and result in canceled games in 2027.
“It would be a real bummer to lose a season, that’s for sure,” Tampa
Bay ace Drew Rasmussen said Thursday ahead of the World Series
opener against Milwaukee. “I think the industry as a whole is in way
too good of a place.”
This year's World Series is the first since 1991 between teams both
in the bottom half of payrolls: Milwaukee ranked 19th as of Aug. 31
and Tampa Bay 25th. MLB says a cap is needed to help all teams
compete more consistently, but players contend because of the method
owners use to define expenses, a cap would lead to management taking
a greater share of the sport’s revenue.
“The system that’s being proposed, which is similar to other leagues
in terms of revenue-sharing system, not only will help us compete,
but more importantly all of the teams with lower payrolls, too,
which is something also I think the fans want,” Brewers owner Mark
Attanasio said.
MLB’s proposal would cap spending in 2027 at $245.3 million using
figures for luxury tax payrolls, and limit a player to 15% of a
team's payroll. Free agents would be capped at $265 million over six
seasons — far under Juan Soto’s record $765 million, 15-year deal
with the New York Mets.
The players' association vows never to accept a cap.
“If they’re going to sit there and wave their little magic wand at
us saying they’re going to get a salary cap, it’s not going to
happen,” Brewers pitcher Trevor Megill said.
Negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement to replace the
five-year deal expiring Dec. 1 could turn into each side trying to
outlast the other.
“My thought with it all is keep building on the former generations
and build on what they gave us,” said Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski,
who throws the first pitch of the Series on Friday night. “You don’t
want to be the generation to send something backwards. You just keep
building on what former generations have given you and hope for the
best.”
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Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen throws during a World Series
baseball media day, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Milwaukee, ahead of
Game 1 between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP
Photo/David J. Phillip)
Attanasio said the Brewers ranked 11th in
non-player baseball operations spending this year and the Rays were
ninth. The owner said about 250 people report to general manager
Matt Arnold.
Milwaukee is ranked 30th and last in market size in MLB and could
become the first small-market team to win the title since the 2015
Kansas City Royals.
“We have to keep an eye on the present and one eye on the future in
every move that we make. Every trade we have to think about that,”
Arnold said. “There are tradeoffs for what you can do to help the
team today and what that looks like going forward.”
Tampa Bay is the No. 15 MLB market. While the Rays haven't spent
lavishly on major league payroll, they were among the bigger
spenders on player development this year.
Grievance withdrawn
The players' association filed a grievance against the Rays alleging
the team didn't meet its obligation under the labor contract to use
revenue-sharing proceeds to try to improve its performance on the
field. The grievance, covering 2017, '18 and '19, was withdrawn in
December.
Catcher cameras
In a bargaining session Thursday, owners proposed to allow the use
of cameras on catchers for broadcasts.
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AP Sports Writer Steve Megargee contributed to this report.
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