Major League Baseball owners are reportedly considering locking out the players if the two sides fail to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement before the current deal expires on Dec. 1, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
Rosenthal noted such a move would end baseball's streak of 21 straight years of labor peace.
A lockout in the offseason would impact roster decisions, such as free-agent signings and trades. Rosenthal did say the winter meetings could still happen from Dec. 4-8, but there wouldn't be "the usual frenzy of major league activity."
The threat of the lockout looms over Tony Clark, who heads the players' union, and Commissioner Rob Manfred in their first time in their current roles.