New York Yankees president Randy Levine stated he is "confident" that Major League Baseball will avoid a lockout, despite ongoing disputes between owners and players over the sport's collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
The current CBA is set to expire on December 1, and significant disagreements remain, particularly concerning the owners' push for a salary cap.
"It's very, very early," Levine said on "The Craig Carton Show." "They want to reach an agreement. It's always this way in every labor negotiation I've done. It's always posturing at this point in time, getting your position out."
Levine acknowledged the difficulty of the current situation but expressed hope that a deal would be reached. "I think they're really going to work hard, and I'm very hopeful they'll reach an agreement. I've seen circumstances where it looked harder than even this, and this one looks hard, but at the end of the day, I'm confident everyone wants to get a deal," he added. He also emphasized the importance of preserving baseball's growing popularity.
The owners' proposals, which include a salary cap, are supported by Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner. "I helped craft, one of many, the proposals that we have given at the bargaining table. And I support those proposals in their entirety," Steinbrenner stated.
MLB has never implemented a salary cap. The players' union has expressed strong opposition, with interim executive director Bruce Meyer arguing that salary caps are "bad for fans" and prevent teams from improving.
The dispute over a salary cap comes amid discussions about competitive balance in the league, with owners arguing that disparities in payrolls affect teams' chances of success. The Yankees, for example, had the third-largest payroll in the league during the 2026 season, behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.
Despite these financial disparities, some teams with lower payrolls have found success in recent seasons. The Milwaukee Brewers, who had the 11th-smallest payroll, reached the National League Championship Series, and the Tampa Bay Rays, with the league's third-smallest payroll, were also in contention. These teams achieved success against clubs with significantly higher payrolls.
MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred has suggested that owners are responding to fan concerns about competitive balance. However, the union maintains that payroll is not the sole determinant of success and that owners have the financial capacity to compete but may choose not to invest.
If an agreement is not reached by December 1, a lockout could be implemented, similar to the one that occurred five years ago, which resulted in a delayed season. Levine's comments suggest an effort to de-escalate tensions and foster optimism for a resolution before the deadline.