For the Atlanta Braves, navigating this offseason successfully is absolutely crucial. As president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said during his end-of-season media session, the Braves need to address their rotation, bullpen, and shortstop as well as the obvious need for a new manager. That is quite the offseason shopping list, but one unfortunate wrinkle could derails any hopes of the Braves swinging big before the 2026 season.
For the uninitiated, the existing collective bargaining agreement for MLB expires at the end of the 2026 season. While the owners and players are on slightly better terms than they were during the last round of labor talks that led to a lengthy offseason stoppage, the odds are extremely good that the owners will lock the players out again as issues like future TV rights, a possible salary cap, and all the usual details that turn into hang-ups are unlikely to be resolved before the CBA expires.