PHOENIX – Here in the desert, storm clouds are gathering. They are still in the distance – whatever two years away translates to in miles – but they are visible all the same: The collective bargaining agreement between MLB’s team owners and the players expires after the 2026 season, and thanks to decreased TV revenue and widening payroll disparities forcing an economic reckoning, both sides are bracing for a gale.
It will be a necessary storm, if only because any issues not fixed sooner will have to be fixed later, and the sport suffers the longer any focus is on its finances instead of its stars.