MLB’s 34-Page Memo Prepares Clubs to Lock Out Players

Major League Baseball distributed a 34-page memo on October 1 preparing club owners and executives for a potential player lockout if a new collective bargaining agreement is not reached before December 2. Dan Halem, MLB's second-in-command, stated that while the league aims to reach an agreement, teams must prepare for an owner-imposed lockout as a negotiation tactic if talks stall.

The memo details strict protocols for clubs, including an immediate freeze on communication with MLBPA members, prohibiting contact with team medical staff, and scrubbing player imagery from league websites. It also clarifies that locked-out players may participate in winter and international leagues, while minor league free agent signings remain permitted.