Sports · Baseball · 3 hrs ago
MLB offseason begins with free agency ahead and a lockout looming
The Milwaukee Brewers won their first World Series title by beating the Tampa Bay Rays, ending the 2026 MLB season.
The 2026-27 offseason began on Oct.
29, when eligible players with at least six years of service became free agents and trades involving 40-man roster players resumed.
Free agents must wait five days before signing with a new team, and during that period they can negotiate only with their most recent team.
Gold Glove winners are due to be announced on Nov.
1, while most contract option decisions and the qualifying-offer deadline fall on Nov.
2.
The owners are expected to lock out players when the current labor agreement expires on Dec.
1.
A lockout would stop MLB transactions, and it could affect spring training or the 2027 regular season if a new deal is not reached in time.
The 2026 MLB season has ended, and the Brewers are World Series champions after defeating the Rays.
The 2026-27 offseason has begun, with eligible players becoming free agents and trading resuming on Oct. 29.
Owners are expected to lock out players when the current collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1.
A lockout would halt transactions and could affect spring training or the 2027 regular season.
- Who
- MLB players and team owners are involved in the expected labor dispute.
- What
- The offseason has begun, and a lockout is expected when the collective bargaining agreement expires.
- When
- The offseason began after the 2026 World Series; the agreement expires on Dec. 1.
- Where
- Major League Baseball.
- Why
- The sources say the owners are expected to lock out players until a new deal is reached, but do not state the reasons for the dispute.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Brewers defeated the Rays to win the World Series and claim the first title in franchise history.
Eligible players became free agents at 9 a.m. ET, and trades involving 40-man roster players resumed.
The Gold Glove winners are scheduled to be announced during an ESPN broadcast.
The current collective bargaining agreement is due to expire, and owners are expected to lock out players.
- World Series champions
- Brewers
- World Series opponent
- Rays
- Free agency begins
- Oct. 29, 2026, at 9 a.m. ET
- Gold Glove announcement
- Nov. 1, at 8:30 p.m. ET
- Collective bargaining agreement expires
- Dec. 1
5 sources
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