For this week’s Rays Reacts, we asked whether the threat of a lockout next season should equate to a discount on any player contracts that run through 2027.
As an example, we recently profiled the trade candidacy for Lars Nootbaar, who is under his rookie contract through 2027. If there is no season next year, and he is thereby unable to contribute any value beyond 2026, one might think his trade value could be significantly altered.
When I polled some of my own contacts across front offices, I got a smattering of responses. One says a lockout isn’t discussed in their front office, another that it’s a key factor in deciding who to consider for trades, and yet another who says it’s a risk that must be factored into the price.
Here’s what y’all thought of the question:
The overwhelming majority say the lockout must be considered, and I have to agree, but also given that it’s only a probability of a lockout there cannot be a zero dollar value on an existing 2027 contract.
Perhaps the more important question I should have asked was: will there be a lockout?
None of us knows what the future holds, but if you think you do, we welcome you to try your prediction skills responsibly with our friends at FanDuel who sponsor the Rays Reacts posts.
