MLBPA head Meyer: 'I would be shocked' if lockout doesn't happen

Interim executive director of the MLBPA Bruce Meyer believes a lockout is very likely to happen when baseball's collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1.

"The league has pretty much already said there's going to be a lockout," Meyer said, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. "I think the commissioner (Rob Manfred) more or less guaranteed it. I would be shocked if they didn't do a lockout when the agreement expires."

Meyer added that the players' union will start negotiating shortly after Opening Day and plans to bargain in good faith.

"If there's a way to avoid it and get a fair deal for the players, we're always looking to do that," Meyer said. "I think the expectations of a lockout upon the expiration of the agreement are very high - almost guaranteed."

The implementation of a salary cap - one of the main sticking points between the league and players' union - is unlikely to happen, Meyer said.

"Our position, both historically and now, is pretty clear," Meyer said. "This union, and every executive director of this union, has always been of the view that it's bad for the players, and for that reason, historically, we've been opposed to it. I don't see any reason to change our view on that subject."

The last MLB lockout spanned from December 2, 2021, to March 10, 2022. The work stoppage lasted 99 days, resulting in a delayed spring training and Opening Day being pushed back. No regular-season games were cancelled, however.