Martinez Urges Owners, Players to Avoid Lockout
The Hall of Fame pitcher called on both sides to reach a deal and avoid a repeat of the 1994 work stoppage.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Baseball
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At the 10th annual Pedro Martinez Foundation gala on Saturday night, the former pitcher implored MLB owners and players to avoid a lockout. The dispute centers largely on owners' desire to implement a salary cap, which players oppose.
Why it matters
The owners argue a salary cap would narrow the gap between high-revenue and low-revenue clubs, while players believe it would suppress salaries and restrict the free market. Neither side is expected to move until games and money are at stake.
Martinez missed salary arbitration by a single day in 1994 and went three years without a raise, a figure that underscores how contract timing shaped his early earnings. The 1994 strike is the last work stoppage that cost MLB regular-season games, and the source does not detail current bargaining proposals beyond the salary-cap dispute.
The players
Pedro Martinez
Dominican-born former MLB pitcher and Hall of Fame inductee known for his dominant run with the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets.
Pedro Martinez Foundation
Charitable organization founded by Pedro Martinez that funds community programs focused on education, health and sports, including a school under construction in the Dominican Republic.
The details
Martinez made his remarks while making the rounds with attendees at the foundation's gala, which supports community programs in education, health and sports. The foundation is also building a new school in the Dominican Republic.
Timeline
1994: Player strike wiped out the rest of the season, including the World Series.
Saturday: Pedro Martinez Foundation holds its 10th annual gala, where Martinez comments on a possible lockout.
Season Trajectory
The current standoff over a salary cap echoes the 1994 player strike, which erased the rest of that season including the World Series. Both the owners' push for a cap and the players' resistance trace back to the same unresolved question of how revenue should be divided between high- and low-revenue clubs.
A lockout would halt games and disrupt the schedule for fans and fantasy players alike. The owners' salary-cap proposal and the players' opposition remain the core obstacles to any deal.
The takeaway
Martinez's appeal underscores how much both sides stand to lose if the dispute drags on as the 1994 strike did. Fans should watch whether either side moves on the salary-cap question before any deadline.
Further reading
For more on the league's labor fight, explore our Baseball coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Boston Herald.
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Should MLB owners and players accept a lockout to win a salary cap deal?
