WASHINGTON – October 21, 2026 -- Former MLB pitcher Tanyon Sturtze says a lockout is coming when Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1, citing disputes over a potential salary cap, payroll requirements and player compensation.
Sturtze made the prediction on a special episode of Franchise Value, a sports-business program produced by CrossCheck Media Inc. and distributed through Biz Talk Today TV. Host Shana Orczyk Sissel, CEO and Founder of Banríon Capital Management, conducted the interview. "Unfortunately, it's definitely coming," Sturtze said, adding that he backs the players but expects a difficult fight for them.
Sturtze Says Younger Players Face the Steepest Financial Hit in a Work Stoppage
Sturtze, a 12-year MLB veteran who played for the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers, drew on baseball's 1994-95 labor dispute. He argued that younger players would struggle most if locked out. The interview also covers the financial vulnerability of young athletes, career-ending injuries and the need to protect wealth after retirement.
Former Yankee Disputes the Link Between Payroll Size and Winning
Sturtze has played for a smaller-market club and for the Yankees. He rejected the idea that payroll size alone determines team quality. Big payrolls, he said, do not automatically produce a good team. The question bears on the salary-cap and payroll-requirement debate ahead of the December 1 expiration.
Sturtze Now Works in Insurance at Hotaling Insurance
Sturtze is now an insurance specialist with Hotaling Insurance. He described the challenges athletes face when their playing careers end and stressed that even a long professional career does not guarantee lifetime financial security.
The full episode is available on Biz Talk Today TV and the CrossCheck Media YouTube channel.