Schedule Release Amid Lockout Fears
MLB Releases 2027 Spring Training Schedules Amid Looming CBA Lockout Concerns
Anonymous
Key Points
1
The Diamondbacks are scheduled to open spring training with split-squad games on Feb. 19, hosting the Rockies while visiting the Giants, and are slated to finish their spring schedule March 21 against the Padres.
2
The Cardinals are scheduled to open the regular season on the road against the Cincinnati Reds on March 25 in a three-game series, and their spring slate includes a March 20 split-squad day against the Marlins and Nationals.
3
The Athletics’ Hohokam Stadium schedule includes 15 home games, with notable planned matchups against the Brewers, Dodgers and Giants; spring-training season tickets are already on sale.
4
The previous MLB lockout lasted 99 days, ending with a new collective bargaining agreement on March 10, 2022; one projection cited in the Diamondbacks report suggests 2027 spring-training games could be pushed into early May if negotiations deteriorate.
Major League Baseball released 2027 spring training schedules for all 30 teams, with games set to start February 19 and regular-season openers planned for March 25, according to IJR. But the schedules come with a major caveat: they're tentative. The players' union and MLB's collective bargaining agreement expires December 1, and a lockout is widely expected as the two sides clash over spending limits, contract rules, and deferred salaries.
This isn't the first time labor disputes have threatened the season. A similar lockout in 2022 lasted 99 days and delayed spring training and the regular season, according to Sports Illustrated. One projection suggests 2027 spring-training games could be pushed into early May if negotiations fall apart, leaving fans and teams scrambling to adjust.
All 30 Teams Get Spring Schedules Despite Uncertainty
The Astros will play 15 home games and two exhibition contests against Triple-A Sugar Land before opening the regular season against Texas, according to Altoona Mirror. The Diamondbacks are scheduled to open spring training on February 19 with split-squad games—hosting the Rockies while visiting the Giants—and will finish their spring slate on March 21 against the Padres.
The Cardinals open the regular season on the road against Cincinnati on March 25 in a three-game series. Their spring schedule includes a March 20 split-squad day against the Marlins and Nationals, per IJR. The Athletics are set to begin Cactus League play against the Cubs in Arizona, with 15 home games planned at Hohokam Stadium including matchups against the Brewers, Dodgers, and Giants.
The 2022 Lockout Serves as a Warning Sign
Baseball's last labor stoppage lasted 99 days and didn't end until March 10, 2022. That work stoppage pushed spring training back and shortened the regular season, disrupting fan plans and team preparation. The 2026 lockout is projected to be similar, according to Clutch Points.
If 2027 negotiations drag on like 2022, spring games could shift from February all the way to early May. That would compress the entire spring schedule into a matter of weeks, forcing teams to scramble and leaving fans unable to attend games they planned for. MLB and the players' union haven't yet reached common ground on key issues, Sports Illustrated reports.
Key Sticking Points Between MLB and Players Union
The December 1 contract expiration deadline marks the start of negotiations that will determine whether spring training happens as scheduled. Yahoo Sports reports the two sides remain far apart on issues including spending limits and how contracts are structured. The players want higher salaries and more control over their earnings, while the league wants to control costs.
Deferred salaries—money paid to players years after they earn it—is another flashpoint. These disagreements mirror the 2022 standoff and suggest a lockout is likely in December 2026. If that happens, spring training and the 2027 season could face significant delays, upending ticket sales and team plans across baseball.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
28
Articles
102
Reach
130
Topics
A
AnonymousAuthor
