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Hall of Famer John Smoltz Warns MLB Cannot Afford a Lockout as CBA Expires After 2026 Season
John Smoltz, the 1995 World Series champion and Hall of Fame pitcher, has publicly warned that Major League Baseball (MLB) cannot afford a work stoppage as the league’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) expires after the 2026 season.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Smoltz said, “They cannot afford to have a stoppage with all the good that has been done and all the great games that have been played lately with the World Series.” The current CBA, which began in 2015, is set to expire on December 1, 2026. Once the agreement lapses, the league and the union will enter a negotiation period that could last several months. If a new agreement is not reached, a lockout could begin, the first since the 1994–95 strike that canceled the remainder of that season.
Late May saw MLB release its first economic proposal for a new CBA. The proposal includes a hard salary cap of $245.3 million and a hard salary floor of $171.2 million for each of the 30 clubs, a 50‑50 split of league revenue, and a revised competitive‑balance tax. MLB said the cap and floor would reduce payroll disparity and strengthen competitive balance. MLBPA’s counter‑proposal, also released in late May, focused on increased revenue sharing and a guaranteed minimum haul for small‑market teams. The union rejected the cap and floor, arguing that they would limit player earnings and worsen the competitive‑balance tax. MLB said the union’s proposal would reduce the amount of money transferred to lower‑revenue clubs and weaken the tax.
Smoltz, who played 21 seasons in MLB and was a key member of the Braves’ 1995 championship team, said the league’s focus on competitive balance is a concern. “There’s a competition issue within baseball that some system is claiming that it’s going to fix. I question that big time,” he added. “Until you have teams and owners that want to put the best product they can on the field in their market, it’s hard for me to be able to tell somebody what they can and can’t spend in a free‑market world.”
The dispute comes as MLB enjoys a surge in fan interest. Early May data from Fox Sports showed exclusive national game viewership up 44 percent compared with the 2025 season, the highest in nine years. The 2025 World Series Game 7 drew a combined 51 million viewers across the United States, Canada and Japan. A lockout would not only halt the 2026 regular season, which begins on March 25, but would also delay the postseason that starts on September 29 and the World Series that begins on October 23. The potential loss of games would affect broadcasters, sponsors and the millions of fans who watch the sport live.
The last MLB lockout, in 1994–95, caused the cancellation of the World Series and the loss of 948 games. The strike highlighted the economic stakes for teams, players and the league, and the long‑term damage to fan trust. At present, MLB and the MLBPA have not reached an agreement. The league’s proposal was sent to the union in late May, and the union’s counter‑proposal was released shortly thereafter. Negotiations are ongoing, and both sides have indicated that a resolution will be reached before the 2026 season begins.
The outcome of the talks will determine whether MLB can avoid a lockout, preserve its recent growth in viewership, and maintain competitive balance across its 30 clubs. The next few weeks will be critical as the league and union work to finalize a new CBA before the 2026 season starts.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Smoltz said, “They cannot afford to have a stoppage with all the good that has been done and all the great games that have been played lately with the World Series.” The current CBA, which began in 2015, is set to expire on December 1, 2026. Once the agreement lapses, the league and the union will enter a negotiation period that could last several months. If a new agreement is not reached, a lockout could begin, the first since the 1994–95 strike that canceled the remainder of that season.
Late May saw MLB release its first economic proposal for a new CBA. The proposal includes a hard salary cap of $245.3 million and a hard salary floor of $171.2 million for each of the 30 clubs, a 50‑50 split of league revenue, and a revised competitive‑balance tax. MLB said the cap and floor would reduce payroll disparity and strengthen competitive balance. MLBPA’s counter‑proposal, also released in late May, focused on increased revenue sharing and a guaranteed minimum haul for small‑market teams. The union rejected the cap and floor, arguing that they would limit player earnings and worsen the competitive‑balance tax. MLB said the union’s proposal would reduce the amount of money transferred to lower‑revenue clubs and weaken the tax.
Smoltz, who played 21 seasons in MLB and was a key member of the Braves’ 1995 championship team, said the league’s focus on competitive balance is a concern. “There’s a competition issue within baseball that some system is claiming that it’s going to fix. I question that big time,” he added. “Until you have teams and owners that want to put the best product they can on the field in their market, it’s hard for me to be able to tell somebody what they can and can’t spend in a free‑market world.”
The dispute comes as MLB enjoys a surge in fan interest. Early May data from Fox Sports showed exclusive national game viewership up 44 percent compared with the 2025 season, the highest in nine years. The 2025 World Series Game 7 drew a combined 51 million viewers across the United States, Canada and Japan. A lockout would not only halt the 2026 regular season, which begins on March 25, but would also delay the postseason that starts on September 29 and the World Series that begins on October 23. The potential loss of games would affect broadcasters, sponsors and the millions of fans who watch the sport live.
The last MLB lockout, in 1994–95, caused the cancellation of the World Series and the loss of 948 games. The strike highlighted the economic stakes for teams, players and the league, and the long‑term damage to fan trust. At present, MLB and the MLBPA have not reached an agreement. The league’s proposal was sent to the union in late May, and the union’s counter‑proposal was released shortly thereafter. Negotiations are ongoing, and both sides have indicated that a resolution will be reached before the 2026 season begins.
The outcome of the talks will determine whether MLB can avoid a lockout, preserve its recent growth in viewership, and maintain competitive balance across its 30 clubs. The next few weeks will be critical as the league and union work to finalize a new CBA before the 2026 season starts.
