Baseball and labor disputes—name a more iconic duo. From the ’94 strike to the 99-day lockout, MLB’s history is a never-ending battle between players and owners. With the CBA expiring in 2026, the tension is already bubbling beneath the surface. And then Rob Manfred dropped a hint about a potential lockout, sending shockwaves through the league. So, are we headed for another labor war, or can MLB finally change the script?

Rob Manfred’s claim is the crux of this issue—he believes a lockout is a necessary tool to push negotiations forward without messing up the regular season. His reasoning? Players don’t get paid in the offseason, so it’s “not painful.”

But that take didn’t sit well with the players’ union.

Tony Clark wasted no time firing back, pointing out that the only ones insisting on a lockout are Manfred and his office. Instead, he emphasized the importance of negotiating in “good faith,” which, by law, means both sides actually have to try for a deal—not just posture for leverage.

Manfred’s remarks have brought back memories of the 2021 lockout. Opening Day was postponed by a week. The 99-day impasse, the longest in MLB history, forced the cancellation of nearly 100 spring training games. Players pushed for higher minimum salaries and better revenue sharing. The issue centered on their disagreements related to expanded playoffs and a higher competitive balance tax.

On behalf of the teams, Rob Manfred initiated the lockout, claiming it was necessary to prevent a midseason strike. Frustrations have persisted despite the compromise reached in March 2022. Clark’s remarks, which highlight reasonable negotiations, now say the MLBPA is getting ready for another battle. It is unclear if Manfred’s position is a warning and a ploy; however, tensions are growing.

Now, fans and analysts are left wondering: Is MLB doomed to repeat history, or can it finally break the cycle of labor wars?

MLB community is split on another lockout

Manfred’s comments didn’t just stir up tension between players and owners—they set off a firestorm among fans. And baseball’s most loyal followers were quick to voice their thoughts.

On one side, some fans believe a lockout is necessary to fix the game’s structural problems. The biggest gripe? Competitive imbalance. “I side with the owners. We need a cap and a floor. International draft is a must“.

Another one expressed similar frustrations and highlighted the league’s competitive imbalance. He said, “fix baseball, it is been broken for a while. Dodgers have won 13 out of the last 14 NL West titles“.

But on the other side, many are outraged by the mere thought of another lockout, calling out Manfred’s leadership and the league’s history of dragging labor disputes into public view. “Multiple owners have publicly talked about a lockout this past season… There is no good faith on their part.“

Pushing back on Rob Manfred’s leadership, one fan wrote, “Rob Manfred is the worst commissioner in professional sports. He does not care about the game and the players“.

For these fans, the issue isn’t just about money—it’s about trust. They see the owners and league office as the driving force behind the tension, pushing players into a corner while fans are left to suffer via another drawn-out dispute.

With negotiations still years away, a contentious battle is already brewing. Rob Manfred’s reviews could be strategic posturing. However, Clark’s pushback highlighted that the union will not accept another lockout without a fight. As fans take sides, one thing is specific—the next CBA negotiations will shape the future of the league. What do you think? Is a lockout inevitable? Can MLB and the MLBPA identify common ground before another standoff?