Compiled by Staff
MLB and the Cardinals have released the 2027 spring training schedule, with games scheduled to begin on Feb. 19. We have our Homewood Suites discount ready to go for those who plan to go as well as the date for “Rob Rains’ 2027 Spring Training Bash.” [CLICK HERE]
For planning purposes, we are proceeding as if Spring Training will open on time, knowing there are a lot of moving parts, and we want you to understand what’s going on. Normally there are fans who, when they find out about the schedule– they begin making their spring training plans, however there is a lot to consider this year.
The current collective bargaining agreement between the MLB owners and the Players Association is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1, 2026.
If the two sides have not reached an agreement by then, the owners are expected to institute a lockout, which would affect all players on the 40-man roster. The lockout could linger into spring training if there is no agreement by then.
What’s the biggest issue?
The biggest issue separating the sides seems to be the owners wanting to institute a salary-cap and salary-floor system. They claim this would make the competition more balanced. The players are against a salary cap because it would restrict the amount of money some teams can spend.
Besides the salary cap, other issues the sides can’t agree on include an international amateur draft, revenue sharing, service time, roster rules and free agent eligibility.
In order for games to start on Feb. 19, the two sides would need to be in agreement before then, with the spring training camps needing to open several days before the first games. The lack of a deal would almost certainly delay the beginning of spring training.
We were in Jupiter in 2022 where the negotiations took place during what should have been spring training but turned out to be a lockout. That year they had a 99 day lockout which delayed spring training as well as the start of the season.
It’s generally assumed both sides will not come to an agreement before the Dec. 1 deadline so the next key date will be how early they can get an agreement. If there is no agreement the owners won’t allow the players to enter their facilities and a lockout will take place.
What happens if there’s a lockout? Will the minor leaguers play?
The minor league players who are not on the 40-man roster are covered by a different bargaining agreement, which does not expire until after the 2027 season, so they would be at spring training like normal. The minor-league portion of spring training usually begins around March 1.
If there is a lockout will the negotiations take place in Jupiter like they did in 2022?
MLB and the Players Association are in negotiations and have been. They have not announced a location for labor negotiations during 2027 spring training if it goes that far, but Jupiter is a logical choice for the same reasons they did it there before.
In 2022 the players wanted the talks moved from New York to Florida during February so they could start working out at private training facilities in the area. Since two teams work out of Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, and other player representatives were nearby, Jupiter was chosen. Normally they would have done it at a hotel or conference center but due to the annual Honda Classic the hotels were full so they tried it at Roger Dean and it worked well for them.
How will STL Sports Page cover the situation?
As we did in 2022, we plan to go to spring training in mid-February. We also plan to have our annual Spring Training Party on March 9 at the Homewood Suites Hotel. In hopes an agreement will be reached, we will proceed with plans, but if there is a lockout of the major leaguers and the minor leaguers are the only show in town, we will accommodate those fans who made their reservations and we will still have some sort of gathering, probably with a minor leaguer in attendance.
Any fans who are going ahead with their spring training plans, please contact us and we will keep you up to date on any activities we do have in Jupiter.
As far as coverage of the labor agreement—or lack of agreement as the situation renders—we will deliver the facts. We don’t tweet rumors unless they are firmly rooted in facts from journalists we trust.
Follow us on Facebook and X as well as YouTube so you can hear the daily “Jupiter Minute” podcasts which will recap what’s going on that day in Jupiter. And for our weekly free newsletter CLICK HERE.
We also know where the players work out so we will probably be able to provide some features articles. They would not be allowed to work out at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium or at the Cardinals facility but there are other workout venues in the area. Though they are not with their entire team and the coaches, the players continue to work out and be ready for whenever an agreement is reached.
If there is a lockout what players can fans watch playing in the minor leagues?
As mentioned earlier, there WILL be a Spring Training for the minor league players. Anyone who has been to Spring Training for an extended period of time knows it’s fun to go to the back fields and watch the minor leaguers work out.
Many of the players who we have written about on STL Sports Page will be there and fans would get the opportunity to watch them in the more relaxed setting that Spring Training provides.
“I always watch the minor leaguers and check in on the players,” said Rob Rains. “I remember interviewing pitcher Michael McGreevy during that time. He had been the Cardinals number one draft pick the year before.”
“Looking at that photo, it would be one of the last Spring Trainings I would stand next to Rick Hummel.”
Any of the minor leaguers who are on the 40-man roster would not be eligible to play until the lockout is over. Many of the Cardinals top prospects will not be on that roster this winter so they will be in Spring Training when the minor league camps open.
Even if there’s a lockout, fans who make the trip will be able to watch Cardinals players of the future, such as Jordan Walker who was there during the lockout of 2022.
The current group includes Rainiel Rodriguez, Liam Doyle, Tanner Franklin, Trevor Condon, Alexander Frias, and Tai Peete.
In 2022, fans who went were able to watch Nolan Gorman, Masyn Winn, Matthew Liberatore and Walker among others.
The other good news for Cardinals fans is that the construction at the stadium complex which forced fans to have to enter on the Marlins side and walk across the complex to the Cardinals back fields this past spring is scheduled to be completed this fall. That means that the normal access through the gate on Central Avenue should return to normal.
So now you know basically what is going on as this article is written in early September, 2026. There’s a lot to think about if you had wanted to take a trip to Spring Training, however if it’s baseball you are after, you will definitely get to watch baseball if you choose your dates to include when the minor league camps will open.
They usually open around March 1, but as of this writing that has not been announced. Be sure to you subscribe to our free newsletter for any and all updates about Spring Training and all things Cardinals: CLICK HERE.
If you ever want updated Spring Training information or other information about our fun events we put on, check out our “Events” page.
