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Report: CBA Talks Could Halt MLB Winter Meetings

By Matt Manetti

Oct 4, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; MLB commissioner Rob Manfred speaks at a press conference before the American League wild card playoff baseball game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; MLB commissioner Rob Manfred speaks at a press conference before the American League wild card playoff baseball game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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ESPN’s Buster Olney reports teams may skip the winter meetings if talks don’t progress on a new CBA. The meetings will take place Dec. 4-8 in National Harbor Md.

The Chicago White Sox may be one of the most intriguing team’s heading to the Winter Meetings. That is if they actually happen. Buster Olney reports teams may skip the meetings if progress isn’t made towards a new CBA. The Winter Meetings are Dec. 4-8. The deadline for a new CBA is Dec. 1.

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Owners will consider locking players out if a new agreement cannot be made Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports. Baseball hasn’t had a lockout since 1990 and the strike in 1994 season canceled the entire postseason and World Series. A potential lockout would end 21 years of peace in labor negotiations between Major League Baseball and the player’s union.

That could be a big blow to teams looking to make moves. The Winter Meetings is usually a time when lots of transactions occur. The Sox are one team who may look to be active during this time. They are already reportedly willing to trade any player with less than four years of team control. That includes Cy Young candidate Chris Sale. If the club were to trade their ace, it would likely happen during the meetings.

That isn’t to say the Sox couldn’t make a move outside the meetings, but a lockout would change the game significantly. During a lockout, the organization’s wouldn’t be able to make any moves, and that could hamper the offseason. It could mean there really is no offseason and we don’t see much movement within the league.

As a fan, I definitely hope we avoid a lockout. It would be a shame to see games lost because of it. And it would be a shame to see players rushed to start a season, if they’re unable to have a proper spring training. Labor negotiations in sports are always a sore topic. I think most people feel it’s millionaires arguing with billionaires over money.

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One of the points of contention seems to be the rules regarding international signings. The owners would like to see an international draft. The player’s association is not in favor of this and seemingly is not budging on the issue. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. But if it plays out like other CBA negotiations, it may all come to a grinding halt when one side begins to lose money. Because in sports, it’s really all about the money.

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