The players’ union and owners have had a contentious history of negotiations and if the next CBA fails, the league could find itself with an extremely long off-season. The MLB owners wanted to shorten the season and make games playable at near-full capacity in 30 ballparks, but the players rejected those proposals and have instead demanded significant change. While the union is calling for incremental increases in player salaries, owners are unwilling to give up the store.

While baseball’s talent is the strongest it’s ever been, the sport is still facing labor issues. While an extended lockout may delay spring training and cut the common season, the sport is already experiencing a tumultuous time. Two years ago, the major league and the players’ union fought over the economics of a restart and the number of 60 games, which was the size of the entire MLB.

There are also no hard deadlines for the players’ union and MLB. There is no hard deadline, but the catchers and pitchers are expected to report around Feb. 15 and March 1. That’s still a long way off, but the players’ union is expected to file a grievance, and it’s likely to cost the league hundreds of millions of dollars.

As Baseball Fights Over the Short TERM, Long TERM PROBLEMS Loom! As the Major Leagues Fight Over the Short Term, It’s Not the End of the World! The MLB and its players’ union are already at odds over the financials of a restart. This is not a time to take a gamble on the sport.

The MLBPA filed a grievance in April 2015 against the Chicago Cubs for optioning overqualified Kris Bryant to the Red Sox. Similarly, the MLBPA filed a grievance against the Chicago Cubs for overpaying Bryant. The NFL and the MLBPA have been deadlocked for months over the short and long term problems. They have not been able to settle the issues they are fighting over.

In addition to the short-term problems, the long-term problems are even greater. The players’ compensation has been steadily increasing in recent years and has risen significantly, but the game’s ownership has not. The baseball union, on the other hand, has become a power broker in the field of baseball. Although these issues are complicated, the major problem is that the owners and the union are in conflict with each other.

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There is no doubt that the players’ union and MLB have had a hard time finding common ground. The owners have been forced to share videoconference time. The current collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1 and it’s expected that the two sides will reach an agreement. However, if they cannot agree, they are expected to fight over the short term. As a result, a lockout may lead to a major strike of the entire MLB.