Major League Baseball Collective Bargaining Agreement — 2026 expiration
MLB CBA
Stakes
The agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on December 1, 2026, and the owners are seeking a salary cap for the first time since 1994. A cap is the one term the union has never accepted in its history, which makes this the least tractable bargaining position in American sports labor. If the parties reach impasse rather than agreement, the mechanics that follow — lockout, status quo, or decertification — are the same ones that produced free agency in every other league.
Details
- Parties
- Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Players Association
- Expires
- December 1, 2026
- Articles in play
- Salary cap (proposed), Luxury tax thresholds, Revenue sharing, Service time and early compensation, International draft
Key dates
- Dec 1, 2026 Agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. ET — Basic Agreement Art. XXVI
Timeline
Sources
Compiled from public filings, court records, league statements, and published reporting. Status reflects the last verified date shown on each entry and may not capture subsequent developments. Commentary and analysis, not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed through this content.