Morning Briefing: MLB Players Believe There Will Be Lockout

Good morning, Mets fans!

Labor concerns continue to loom over Major League Baseball’s future. According to Sam Blum of The Athletic, a poll of 101 MLB players across 23 teams found that a majority believe there will be a lockout following the 2026 season when the current collective bargaining agreement expires. The survey reflects growing concern among players as negotiations between MLB and the MLBPA continue to be closely monitored around the sport.

Photo Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Now onto the morning briefing!

Latest Mets News

The Mets faced their rivals from Pennsylvania and made an impression as they beat the Phillies 6-4 behind two home runs from Juan Soto, a go-ahead pinch-hit single by Eric Wagaman and a two-run triple from Marcus Semien. Sean Manaea allowed two earned runs over 5 1/3 innings, and Devin Williams secured the save as New York improved to 34-41. For more on this game, check out our recap!

The Mets outrighted infielder Vidal Bruján to Triple-A Syracuse after he cleared waivers, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Bruján had been designated for assignment earlier this week.

Latest MLB News

Stephen J. Nesbitt of The Athletic conducted a survey of MLB fans about labor negotiations and future concerns, gathering over 8,500 responses. While many fans feel the league lacks competitive balance, there is no consensus on the proposed solution of a hard cap. This sentiment was highlighted by a Cincinnati Reds fan, as the team with a $128 million payroll faced off against the New York Mets ($369 million) and Yankees ($308 million) in the same week.

Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. has become actively involved in the Orioles’ on-field operations for the first time since his playing career ended, according to Britt Ghiroli and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Mike Trout is headed to the injured list with a hamstring injury, according to Sam Blum of The Athletic. The injury is another setback in what had been a strong comeback season for Trout. The Angels are expected to promote top prospect Christian Moore to fill the roster spot.

MLB announced that the 2026 Home Run Derby will take place on July 13 in Philadelphia and will stream exclusively on Netflix. Major League Baseball has replaced the timed format of the Home Run Derby with a swing-based system. The 2026 event will feature a set allotment of swings per round, eliminate the running clock, and allow batters to keep their turn at the plate alive as long as they hit a home run on their final swing

According to Sarah Langs of MLB.com, Trei Cruz is poised to become the fifth player in MLB history whose grandfather, father and son have all played in the major leagues. Trei’s father is former major leaguer Jose Cruz Jr., and his grandfather is the notable Houston Astro, Jose Cruz. The Cruz family joins the ranks of the Bell, Boone, Coleman and Hairston families who have also achieved this feat.

The Atlanta Braves have acquired catcher Joey Bart from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcher Hunter Stratton. To accommodate this move, Atlanta designated catcher Sandy León for assignment, creating space on the 40-man roster for Bart.