December will define MLB's next decade, and why everything runs through the CBA

Major League Baseball’s recent momentum may hinge on the outcome of its next collective bargaining agreement.

In a Sports Business Journal article, Day Pitney Litigation Partner Mark Salah Morgan identifies the Dec. 1, 2026 expiration of the CBA as the defining moment for the sport’s next decade. He highlights the growing divide between high- and low-spending teams as the central economic tension, with owners seeking stronger cost controls and players opposing a salary cap while remaining open to a spending floor.

Morgan outlines how a revenue-based cap-and-floor system, similar to those used in other major leagues, could improve competitive balance, increase fan engagement, and support long-term revenue growth. He also emphasizes that labor stability will be critical to MLB’s media rights strategy and franchise valuations, making the outcome of the CBA negotiations central to the league’s future.

Read the full article here.