Overview
- Executives, agents and team officials gathered at the GM Meetings this week in Las Vegas and described preliminary but active talks as they prepare for a compressed three-week window before the CBA expires.
- Tarik Skubal is the top free agent on the market with heavy interest from big spenders including the Mets and Dodgers and his agent Scott Boras is seeking record-level guaranteed money.
- Major League owners have floated a salary-cap framework that would begin in 2028 and the revised cap and floor numbers are already prompting teams to act cautiously and consider signing players now to 'grandfather' deals.
- Procedural deadlines are forcing near-term moves: teams must set 40-man rosters by Nov. 17 to protect prospects from the Rule 5 draft and the Phillies have confirmed they will add at least one prospect to avoid losing him.
- If the CBA expires at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 1, a lockout would immediately freeze trades, signings and team-player communications and likely cancel the winter meetings, shifting when and how clubs can complete roster plans.