‘Irate’ MLB owners appear ready for foreclosure after Dodgers and Kyle Tucker deal

If Matt Clapp Shared for Awful Announcing, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred emphasized during an appearance on New York sports radio station WFAN that there has been “a rush toward negativity by many of the media outlets that cover our sport” over what many believe is an inevitable work stoppage that could impact parts or all of the 2027 season.

That rush won’t abate anytime soon.

It’s “100 percent certainty” that MLB owners will do this after the Dodgers and Kyle Tucker deal

MLB Insider Evan Drellich of The Athletic revealed that unnamed league owners are “furious” in the wake of Kyle Tucker’s free agency deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.” Drellich added that it is now “100 percent certain” that the owners will push for a salary cap” during negotiations with the MLB Players Association over the next collective bargaining agreement.

The current collective labor agreement between the parties expires on December 1, 2026.

Star closer Edwin Diaz before signed a three-year deal worth $69 million to leave the New York Mets for the Dodgers in free agency. Soon after, the MLB community was stunned to hear that Tucker received a four-year contract worth $240 million with an opt-out after the World Series champions’ second year for 2024 and 2025.

History shows that the MLBPA will fight against a salary cap through an expected lockout, even if it would result in games being canceled. It appears the owners are willing to lock out the players if the league doesn’t accept a cap after the offseason events.

‘Biggest Question’ About Upcoming MLB, MLBPA Fight Revealed?

“What came in the wake of the Tucker news, a three-year deal worth $126 million the New York Mets and Bo Bichette, also came with dander, the source said, adding that the Dodgers and Mets may be the only teams that will try to stand in the way of a cap,” Drellich continued. “…The biggest question doesn’t seem to be whether a cap proposal will be made, but which side will address the issue first: will owners stick with such a proposal until a work stoppage that costs regular-season games in 2027? Caven players? And how long does the staring last?”

In early 2022, Opening Day was postponed due to a lockout. Ultimately, the two sides came to an agreement that teams would play the full 162-game schedule. History could repeat itself next year, but… Ken Rosenthal of athletics is among the MLB reporters who continue to say a lockout “could force the cancellation of part or all of the 2027 season.”

“The lockout is coming,” Rosenthal wrote. “Everyone in sports knows it.”