Welcome, Pat.
We’ve been expecting you.
YOUR CBA NEGOTIATION WILL TEST MLB’S REPUTATION.
WE CAN HELP.
Your upcoming negotiation could bend MLB’s reputation to the breaking point.
The 2026 CBA expiration isn’t just a deadline, it’s a crossroads: a reputation risk that could take years to recover from, or an opportunity to strengthen your fanbase’s belief in MLB’s trajectory.
If you want to know how we think, and how to cement reputation in today’s volatile landscape, we’ve outlined a sneak peak at our strategy below.
It’s based on our book about how organizations can build reputation during a time of utter chaos.
But first, let’s talk about the narrative opportunity currently slipping through MLB and ownership's fingers.
You’ve Arrived at the Tipping Point
MLB is hurtling toward a work stoppage.
While its Economic Reform Committee has spent the last year advocating for structural change, recent events have turned a quiet concern into a near certainty per media: the era of the $400 million payroll has arrived, and it is unsustainable.
Following Kyle Tucker’s staggering deal, the Dodgers’ projected 2026 payroll is set to exceed $413 million.
While the Dodgers and Mets are operating in a different stratosphere, nearly half the league is projected to spend less than $200 million.
The Perception: Without a new narrative, the public won't see competitive imbalance. They will see a league where 28 teams are mathematically eliminated from World Series contention before Opening Day, even though virtually all of them are led by wealthy owners perfectly capable of spending to become competitive..
The Players Are Already Winning the Pre-Game
The MLBPA is historically disciplined. Their message is simple: Ownership is choosing not to spend. As we near December 2026, the noise will only grow. The average fan naturally aligns with the players. They are afterall, the visible stars of the game. While "Ownership" remains a faceless, corporate entity.
If you wait until the lockout is imminent to tell your story, you have already lost.
The Motio POV: Redefining the "Cap" as a "Floor for Fairness"
You have a path to alignment with the average fan. The narrative should not be about restricting the Dodgers; it should be about elevating the entire league.
Make it Specific: Point to the Salary Floor. A cap isn’t just a ceiling. It’s the mechanism that requires smaller-market teams to increase spending.
Competitive Parity is a Product: Model out what a 30-team competitive field looks like.
Authenticity is the Only Currency: No more “holding statements.” No more sidestepping questions. MLB leaders and owners should speak directly to the fans about why the current model needs fixing.
The battle for 2027 is underway. To win the narrative, the league must define its position now. Every month of vague overtures about what the owners will push for in 2026 is a month the MLBPA uses to seed the ground.
Motio helps you take the lead. Let’s talk about the strategy to protect the game.