Skenes Speaks at Citizens Bank Park
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes addressed a crowd at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2026. The appearance occurred before the Home Run Derby event.
Skenes, who is done with his 2026 season, used the platform to discuss his responsibilities off the field. He serves as a member of the eight-player executive subcommittee for the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). Skenes noted that he has been on 95% of Zoom meetings throughout the season and expressed excitement about being in the room for the first time.
The current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the league and the players is set to expire on Dec. 1. If a new agreement is not reached by that date, owners will lock out players. A failure to reach a deal could result in lost games in 2027 or a canceled season entirely.
Salary Cap Negotiations
Skenes identified a potential salary cap as the primary issue in the upcoming negotiations. He noted that team owners are pushing for the implementation of a salary cap, while the players union has historically opposed such a measure.
Regarding the possibility of a lockout or strike resulting from stalled negotiations, Skenes said, "Yeah, that would be a worst-case scenario." He emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in labor relations. "We're stewards of the game. This is our game... We have a lot of momentum. It would not be good to kill that," Skenes stated.
Skenes highlighted the complexity of the current contract, noting that the existing CBA is 400 pages long. He said this length means many aspects of the agreement have not been fully discussed yet in the context of future negotiations.
Union Voting Structure
The MLBPA's decision-making process involves a specific voting structure for ratifying the next CBA. Each of the eight members of the executive subcommittee holds one vote on whether to approve the agreement.
In addition to the subcommittee, each of the 30 MLB teams has an individual player representative who also casts a vote. For the Pittsburgh Pirates, catcher Henry Davis fills the role of team representative.
Skenes distinguished his role from that of Davis. He noted that he looks out for the welfare of all players while Davis is focused on what Pirates players need.
Historical Precedent for Labor Disputes
The stakes of these negotiations are underscored by historical precedents in baseball labor relations. The MLBPA went on strike in August 1994 over the salary cap, resulting in a canceled season and a shortened 1995 season of 144 games.
Precedent for Committee Dissent
The dynamics of the current negotiations may mirror past disputes. In the last CBA negotiations, the eight-player executive subcommittee voted against ratification, but 26 of the team representatives voted for it, and it passed 26-12.