Matt McLain isn’t soft-pedaling what’s ahead in MLB labor talks.
With the current Collective Bargaining Agreement set to expire on Dec. 1, and negotiations already underway between the league and the MLB Players Association, the Cincinnati Reds infielder says the players are ready for the possibility that things get ugly. One of the biggest sticking points is MLB’s push for a salary cap and floor system, a concept the players have firmly resisted.
Appearing on the FUNanical Podcast hosted by Sharefax Credit Union, McLain was direct when asked whether players are prepared to miss games.
"I think we are. I actually know we are," McLain said when asked if players are prepared to miss games.
He didn’t stop there. McLain said the situation is trending toward a lockout, but he made clear he doesn’t want the union to blink.
"The lockout situation looks like it's going to happen," McLain said. "I want us to fight for what we want.
I don't want us to cave at all. I feel like a lot of guys are on that same page...
I hope we take it to them (the owners)."
That kind of stance isn’t surprising, and it lines up with where most players are expected to stand as talks continue.
The owners’ latest proposal calls for a hard salary cap and floor, with the cap set at $245.3 million and the floor at $171.2 million.
For the Reds, the numbers hit close to home. Their 2026 Opening Day payroll sat near the bottom third of the league at around $126.5 million.
Rob Manfred has kept a more upbeat tone publicly, saying the league is "planning on playing baseball next year." The two sides have been meeting regularly, but there’s still a long way to go before the current deal runs out.
For Reds fans, the issue is especially worth watching. Cincinnati has spent years operating as one of baseball’s smallest-market clubs, which makes the fight over payroll structure and competitive balance feel especially relevant.
Whether a cap and floor would actually help teams like the Reds is still an open question. What McLain made clear, though, is that the players are bracing for a real battle - and, if necessary, they’re willing to miss games to get the deal they want.
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