Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Former Yankees Pitcher Joba Chamberlain Issues Strong Message on Possible MLB Lockout

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Nov 6, 2025 1:39 PM ET

Former New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain promised that the Major League Baseball Players Association will fight to avoid a lockout following the 2026 season.

The current collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, 2026, and there have been no credible reports regarding a potential new CBA in the coming months. As some fans shared concerns about a possible work stoppage, Chamberlain wrote on X/Twitter that labor-related discussions can “get heated.”

“Our players union is really strong,” Chamberlain wrote. “We will fight. TRUST ME.”

Major League Baseball last experienced a lockout from December 2021 through March 2022, when the union and owners agreed to a revised CBA. The work stoppage shortened spring training and delayed Opening Day, though the league ultimately played a full 162-game season.

What to Know About a Possible MLB Lockout

For the unfamiliar, Major League Baseball and its Players Association typically agree to a new CBA roughly every five years. The agreement covers not only finances and salaries but also competitive and procedural issues, such as rule changes. The most recent CBA, for instance, introduced the universal designated hitter, expanded postseason, and an MLB draft lottery.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in 2025. Will Major League Baseball be able to avoid another work stoppage?David Banks-Imagn Images

The most significant issue that could trigger another work stoppage involves the league’s long-debated idea of implementing a salary cap. Players — including Philadelphia Phillies All-Star first baseman Bryce Harper — have strongly opposed the concept. Some owners, however, including Colorado Rockies chairman Dick Monfort, have voiced support for it.

“Something’s got to happen,” Monfort told the Denver Gazette in March. “The competitive imbalance in baseball has gotten to the point of [ludicrousness] now. It’s an unregulated industry.”

“The only way to fix baseball is to do a salary cap and a floor,” Monfort continued. “With a cap comes a floor. For a lot of teams, the question is: How do they get to the floor? And that includes us, probably. But on some sort of revenue-split deal, I would be all-in.”

The average MLB team spent roughly $176.3 million in payroll this past season, and 12 of the league’s 30 clubs surpassed the $200 million threshold. The Los Angeles Dodgers ($350 million), New York Mets ($341 million), and New York Yankees ($304 million) all exceeded $300 million, while the Philadelphia Phillies weren’t far behind at just over $293 million.

At the other end, five teams had payrolls below $100 million, and none reached the postseason. The Cincinnati Reds ($113 million) and Cleveland Guardians ($100 million) had the lowest payrolls among playoff teams.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: