MLB Distributed Lockout Planning Memo to Team Owners
The 34-page document mandates strict communication restrictions and website scrubbing if a work stoppage occurs.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Baseball
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Major League Baseball has issued a 34-page internal memo to team owners outlining operational procedures in the event of a work stoppage. The guidance mandates the removal of player imagery from league websites and restricts direct communication between clubs and roster players.
Why it matters
The memo serves as a contingency plan to ensure league-wide compliance should a new collective bargaining agreement not be reached with the Players Association. By formalizing these rules, the league aims to avoid legal complications during potential labor negotiations.
The internal document spans 34 pages of procedural instructions. This follows the 2021-22 period where MLB previously implemented specific lockout rules regarding team digital presence.
The players
Major League Baseball
This is the professional baseball organization that oversees the sport's operations and labor relations in the United States.
Players Association
The labor union represents the interests of professional baseball players in negotiations regarding collective bargaining agreements.
The details
Under the new guidelines, clubs must scrub official websites of player images and videos during a lockout, while also ceasing all business dealings with 40-man roster athletes. Furthermore, team officials are instructed to avoid sending holiday cards to players and must monitor agent communications to ensure discussions exclude roster-related topics.
Timeline
The internal memo regarding lockout procedures was reported on October 7, 2026.
MLB previously enforced similar lockout rules for team websites during the 2021-22 offseason.
Season Trajectory
This memo reinforces the structural divide between the league and the Players Association, setting a rigid framework for potential work stoppages that could freeze team rosters and scouting operations. The formalization of these rules mimics protocols from the 2021-22 MLB lockout, signaling a shift toward more disciplined, league-wide compliance measures.
Players retain the right to compete in professional leagues in other countries, such as in Japan, during a work stoppage. Additionally, teams are still permitted to sell merchandise featuring players throughout the duration of any lockout.
The takeaway
The proactive nature of this memo suggests that teams are bracing for a period of labor instability. Fans should be aware that if a lockout is triggered, the digital and promotional landscape of the sport will be significantly restricted.
Further reading
For more on the current labor climate, see the latest updates in Baseball.
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