The ongoing MLB lockout is still very much in place: with no collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in sight, the league won’t lift it because they would lose all leverage.
And with current rumblings that the league is open to losing as much as one month’s worth of games, players don’t want their earnings to suffer.
They will if they don’t have any games to play at the MLB level.
That’s why some of them will need to find solutions to get some payment during the season.
Some players will have more time for their own business ventures and others will have to find some work, whether it comes inside or outside of baseball.
But they will have one option: playing in another league.
Player Can, And Will Play In Other Leagues If The Lockout Continues
MLB owners can’t forbid players from looking for extra opportunities to play in other leagues as long as the lockout is still in place.
It would be borderline criminal for the league to lock players out and ban them from pursuing other opportunities in baseball.
Lots of players, as a result, could be heading to Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Europe, and other leagues with the intention of earning some income and keeping their bodies in shape in case the lockout ends eventually.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic clarified this in a recent tweet.
From the work stoppage guide distributed to player agents before the lockout… https://t.co/xbIJVrhOxY pic.twitter.com/p9rPeVacOB
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 28, 2022
The Players Association handed players a work stoppage guide, and it says that the MLBPA would interfere with any league attempts to intervene with players who decide to play in other leagues during the lockout.
Some players may be able to negotiate a clause that allows them to return to the States if the lockout ends (Bryce Harper wouldn’t play in Japan without one, for example).
Will we see legitimate MLB stars overseas?
NEXT: Bryce Harper Is Ready To Play In Japan