Baseball-MLB greats warn lockout or strike would derail sport's momentum

FILE PHOTO: Aug 8, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants special advisor to baseball operations Dusty Baker looks on before the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Washington Nationals at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images/ File Photo

BEVERLY HILLS (Reuters) -A work stoppage stemming from a lockout or strike would damage Major League Baseball just as the sport is enjoying renewed growth in revenue and popularity, two of the game's all-time greats said.

The current collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association expires Dec. 1, 2026. Some owners have floated a salary cap - MLB is the only major men's North American league without one - a proposal players oppose, raising the prospect of a labor dispute ahead of the 2027 season.