MLB Issues Memo on Lockout Procedures for Teams
Major League Baseball recently distributed a memo to teams outlining the procedures and guidelines for team personnel in anticipation of an offseason lockout. This communication comes as the current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on December 1, with little expectation of a new agreement being reached by that date.
The memo indicates that if no agreement is achieved, MLB will implement a lockout to halt offseason activities. This would restrict team personnel from interacting with players on the 40-man roster, although some minimal non-work relationships may be maintained. For instance, personnel can attend players' weddings as long as work discussions are avoided.
Additionally, the memo addresses the status of the major league Rule 5 draft, which is scheduled for mid-December but cannot occur during a lockout. The MLB Players Association has expressed a desire to retain the draft to provide opportunities for fringe players, proposing to schedule it for late November to prevent a repeat of the 2021 situation. Minor league transactions will remain unaffected by the lockout, and players not on the 40-man roster will continue to play under their own CBA.
