28 DAYS AND COUNTING

Holly Horning writes that Major League Baseball front offices and players have a narrow 28-day window to complete contracts and finalize rosters before an anticipated December 1 lockout halts all business. Horning notes that approximately 65 percent of MLB players make near the league minimum on one-year deals, creating intense financial pressure to secure agreements early rather than risk a protracted work stoppage.

The writer also argues that high-spending clubs like the Los Angeles Dodgers may aggressively pursue top free agent Tarik Skubal before potential payroll caps take effect under a new collective bargaining agreement. In contrast, Horning projects the Detroit Tigers will bypass elite free agents, choosing instead to focus on promoting prospects and trading away players inherited from the previous front office regime.