Guide to MLB's labor battle: What to know about in...
Key takeaways
- Though the initial meeting between MLB and the MLBPA is unlikely to lead to a new CBA in the immediate future, it is the first step in a long labor battle ahead with the 2027 season hanging in the balance.
- Who are the key names from both MLB and the MLBPA?
- Tuesday's meeting was little more than a feeling-out session.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred meets with Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres. Michael Reaves/Getty Images ESPNMultiple Authors May 13, 2026, 07:00 AM ETEmail Print Open Extended Reactions. The next round of MLB labor negotiations officially began Tuesday with the league and the Major League Baseball Players Association exchanging opening presentations more than six months before the Dec. 1 expiration date of the current collective bargaining agreement.
Though the initial meeting between MLB and the MLBPA is unlikely to lead to a new CBA in the immediate future, it is the first step in a long labor battle ahead with the 2027 season hanging in the balance.
Who are the key names from both MLB and the MLBPA? Is a salary cap coming to baseball? And what other topics will dominate the conversations? ESPN MLB experts Jorge Castillo, Alden Gonzalez, Buster Olney, Jeff Passan and Jesse Rogers break down the topics that will shape the future of the sport.