Lockout Vocab
In Major League Baseball, this business tactic is used by owners to shut down league operations during labor disputes.
Lockout
This team won back-to-back World Series and has the second-highest payroll in the MLB, and is the main reason why a potential lockout could happen in 2027.
Los Angeles Dodgers
While not implemented in Major League Baseball, team owners want this put in place to "even the playing field".
Salary Cap
This side argues that players should be paid based on performance and market value without strict limits.
MLB Players
This year is when the first MLB lockout was ever recorded.
1973
This term describes when players collectively stop participating in games to demand better conditions or pay.
Strike
This team had 97 wins and 65 losses while being a bottom 15 team in payroll in the league, and was unfortunately swept by the Dodgers in the 2025 National League Championship Series.
Milwaukee Brewers
This "time period" allows for players to sign with new teams because their contract with the last team they played for has expired, and can also be postponed due to a lockout.
Free Agency
This group often supports players publicly during labor disagreements because of strong fan connection.
Fanbase/Fans
This type of team often pushes for a salary cap because they struggle to compete with high-spending franchises
Small Market Team
This MLB organization is considered one of the strongest unions in professional sports.
Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA)
This player received a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, but will only receive $2 million per year while with the team, and the remaining $680 million will be paid out to him after the contract expires.
Shohei Ohtani
This process allows teams to keep their talented, young players in the minor leagues longer than needed in order to keep them in their control.
Service Time Manipulation
This type of conflict happens when players and owners cannot agree on a new contract system.
Labor Dispute
This is the nickname for the rule that punishes teams for spending way more money than everyone else.
Luxury Tax
Loss of income for restaurants, vendors, and stadium employees during an MLB lockout is an example of this.
Economic Impact
This player signed the largest contract in Major League Baseball history with the New York Mets, at 15 years and $765 Million.
Juan Soto
This process allows players and teams to agree on a contract where they get paid less while playing, and earn the rest of their money after the contract is up, allowing for more money to be spent on players.
Deferment
This concept explains the unequal power between wealthy team owners and individual players negotiating contracts.
Power Imbalance
It’s the giant payday process where players argue their value in front of a neutral third party.
Arbitration
MLB teams depend heavily on this emotional connection that keeps supporters engaged through controversies and labor disputes.
Fan Loyalty
This team had the highest payroll in 2025 at $342.3 million, and yet failed to even make the playoffs during 2025. Some owners believe we need a salary cap, but the team with the highest payroll couldn't even make any noise.
New York Mets.
This contract is agreed upon between players and owners that balances workload and benefits, and if a dispute were to happen, a lockout would occur.
Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
This is the disagreement over how profits from tickets, TV deals, and merchandise should be divided.
Revenue Distribution
This is the term for when fans deal with the consequences of owners and players not being able to agree on league operations.
Caught In The Crossfire