theathleticuk
The final mailbag of the baseball regular season arrives with a bittersweet tone. Typically, this time of year would be filled with anticipation for the playoffs, but the specter of an impending lockout has cast a shadow over the sport.
The Dodgers are chasing a historic third consecutive championship, while the Brewers and Rays are each in strong positions to capture their first-ever World Series. There should be plenty of drama ahead, but the looming labor dispute has soured the mood for many fans.
With the regular season winding down, here are responses to some of the questions on readers' minds. Questions have been edited for clarity.
Would a Brewers-Rays World Series Affect CBA Talks?
One reader asked whether a small-market World Series matchup like Brewers vs. Rays could impact CBA negotiations, given MLB's PR campaign to convince fans that the system is rigged against small-market teams. Would losing that narrative push owners to drop their salary cap demand sooner?
Ultimately, the answer is no. Regardless of which teams reach the World Series, owners remain committed to a new financial system that includes a salary cap, and the union remains equally committed to opposing a cap, even with a salary floor. These positions are deeply entrenched and won't change based on one postseason outcome.
Manager and Executive of the Year Races
Another reader wondered if Pat Murphy and Matt Arnold could win Manager of the Year and Executive of the Year for a third straight season, or if voter fatigue might hinder them. Voter fatigue likely isn't a factor for Executive of the Year, an award that has only existed since 2018 and is voted on by teams. It's more of a fun way to needle a GM you haven't seen in a while.
As for Murphy, bookmakers and prediction markets list him as the favorite to win Manager of the Year for an unprecedented third consecutive year. That would be remarkable, considering only Bobby Cox, Buck Showalter, and Tony La Russa have won the award four times. La Russa's first win came in 1983 and his last in 2002; Cox won his first in 1985 and last in 2005; Showalter won his first in 1994 and last in 2022.
The Manager of the Year award often goes to a skipper whose team exceeds expectations. It's puzzling that Milwaukee still fits that description. Before 2026, projection systems like FanGraphs pegged the Brewers for 83 wins and a third-place finish in the NL Central. That seemed off. This writer picked Milwaukee to win the division and post the best record in baseball, and they have proven to be a very good team.
Ironically, the fastest way for Murphy to never win the award again would be if the Brewers win their first World Series this season, which is exactly what he wants.
Angels' Offseason Uncertainty
Questions about the Angels revolve around whether John Mozeliak will continue to run baseball operations after his contract expires on Dec. 1 and the lockout begins. This is a hot topic in front offices, as many aspiring executives view Stan Kroenke's Angels as a dream job, especially if Kroenke invests in the team as he has in his other sports ventures.
Given the uncertainty—the lockout and Kroenke not taking full control until early 2027—it might make sense to retain Mozeliak. He is a seasoned, accomplished executive who earned praise for his handling of the trade deadline. Kroenke may value the stability Mozeliak provides.
It's unclear how Kroenke plans to rebuild the Angels. He could embark on a slow rebuild, trading players like Zach Neto and Reid Detmers, or he could pursue big-name free agents like Tarik Skubal to quickly contend. The likely path is somewhere in between. The Angels need infrastructure investment more than splashy signings, though Kroenke can afford both. That's why many around the game would be interested in running his new team.
Underperforming Stars and Award Races
A reader asked about the many big names who underperformed this season, such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Kyle Tucker, Gunnar Henderson, Julio Rodriguez, Cal Raleigh, Trea Turner, and Paul Skenes. As Ted Williams said, "Don't you know how hard all this is?" Don't forget Jose Altuve, Bo Bichette, Luis Castillo, Edwin Diaz, Francisco Lindor, Manny Machado, Josh Naylor, Jose Ramirez, George Springer, Eugenio Suarez, and Logan Webb—and surely others. Baseball is a really, really hard game.
Another reader asked if any major awards (MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, etc.) could see upsets. First, the award is called Reliever of the Year, though it should be Fireman of the Year. If MLB ever gets its offseason awards show off the ground, they should have Lil Wayne present it.
It would be a huge upset if Bobby Witt Jr. won AL MVP over Yordan Alvarez, but maybe it shouldn't be. Witt has a slight edge in both forms of WAR over Alvarez, the overwhelming favorite. There's no real narrative for Witt—he plays for a last-place team and his excellence is spread across all facets, making his counting stats less eye-catching. He probably won't win, but WAR matters to some voters, so Alvarez might not be unanimous.
Lockout Length and Salary Cap Stance
When asked how many games might be missed and whether a salary cap is supported, the response is an educated guess: no games will be missed in 2027. A resolution is expected in March, allowing enough time to fit 162 games into the schedule. Of course, that could be wrong. Many in the game are more pessimistic. Anyone who claims certainty about the labor battle is overplaying their hand; it's too soon to tell. We don't know how either side will react before the pressure points of February, March, and April.
As for a salary cap, the sport doesn't need one, but it doesn't particularly matter. As a journalist, the job is to explain how the sport works under whatever rules are in place—or, this winter, why the sport will be on ice for a while.
Originally reported by theathleticuk.