It is that time of year again.
The luggage is packed, and teams are headed to their destinations in Florida and Arizona as spring training will mark the start of the 2026 baseball season.
Many fans—outside of the Los Angeles Dodgers faithful—have spent the offseason debating which teams had the best and worst winters, and whether the Dodgers have tilted the competitive balance by scooping up nearly every All-Star-caliber player available, as if shopping freely at a supermarket.
Yet as excitement builds for the 2026 season and the inevitable roller coaster ride it will bring, some fans are already looking beyond the on-field action to what awaits baseball at the conclusion of the year.
If the World Series reaches seven games, the season would end on October 31, 2026. That would leave exactly 31 days until the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires at 11:59 p.m. EST on December 1.
For many fans, this looming deadline is easy to overlook amid the buzz surrounding the upcoming season—from a free agent frenzy to the arrival of exciting new prospects, and teams turning the page under new managers, hoping to right the ship.
Adding to the intrigue, the World Baseball Classic returns this year. Recent editions of the mid-spring tournament have delivered unforgettable moments, spectacular plays and the discovery of talent from every corner of the globe.
As someone who lived through the 1994 strike, however, I can not help but notice familiar warning signs beginning to cast a shadow over the sport.
That work stoppage cost baseball 948 games, the entire postseason and the World Series, leaving a black eye on the game that took years to heal and regain the trust of its fans.
It remains the last time Major League Baseball lost games due to a labor dispute, and a similar outcome this time around could leave an even deeper scar if another stoppage occurs.
So, how did we arrive at this point? What issues have emerged since the last CBA was signed?
“As an organization, you get ready for the next negotiations as soon as the ink is dry on the previous one,” MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark said. “I can not speak for the other side, but our interest is getting into the room and hammering out a fair and equitable deal. That is our commitment. The other stuff is just noise.”
That “noise” may be easy to dismiss from the players’ perspective, but for fans, it echoes loudly. While baseball is often referred to as America’s pastime, it has grown into a truly global sport.
The WBC, held every four years, has become one of the most anticipated international tournaments in sports. Beyond that, the Caribbean World Series, Little League World Series, Nippon Professional Baseball League, Korean Baseball Organization, Dominican League and many others draw fans from around the world.
The passion for baseball inspires kids to emulate their favorite players, dreaming of striking out the final batter of a World Series or delivering a game-winning walk-off hit.
It is parents taking their children to the ballpark, sharing a hot dog in the stands and building lifelong memories. For many, baseball is an experience that brings families, friends and communities together.
In the darkest and most difficult times, baseball has served as a unifying escape, offering a few hours of relief from the weight of the world. It is more than a game; it is a global phenomenon.
Come back tomorrow for part two, as we delve into the many ways a possible lockout could negatively affect the game we love.
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