Major League Baseball Lockout Has Turned the MLB Website Upside Down

The Major League Baseball lockout has begun, and there already some changes happening. For one MLB’s website looks a lot different than it did yesterday.

Here’s the explanation via MLB.

Via MLB Website:

“You may notice that the content on this site looks a little different than usual. The reason for this is because the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the players and the league expired just before midnight on Dec. 1 and a new CBA is currently being negotiated between the owners and the MLBPA.

Until a new agreement is reached, there will be limitations on the type of content we display. As a result, you will see a lot more content that focuses on the game’s rich history. Once a new agreement is reached, the up-to-the minute news and analysis you have come to expect will continue as usual.”

Let’s take look at all the reactions after the MLB lockout changed the site:

Yo at bat and https://t.co/zYWcg6R3zA straight up can’t refer to any current players now with the lockout. pic.twitter.com/u6IF1siVNP

— CarlO’s Correa (@ashtonblane) December 2, 2021

I know this is because they can’t use players likeness without a deal but pretty hilarious they had to prep to remove all players images from mlb. com pic.twitter.com/aPmiNyFTbd

— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) December 2, 2021

They removed the headshots from https://t.co/UfApTwx13P rosters. pic.twitter.com/x43zle6tLK

— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) December 2, 2021

Oh this is a trip. Promo items based on current players no longer have names attached.

For example, the giveaway on April 9 was originally Adam Wainwright/Yadier Molina mystery jerseys. Now, get ready for “adult Cardinals battery” mystery jerseys https://t.co/vWp08kqRtQ pic.twitter.com/iqI516k56T

— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) December 2, 2021

MLB really went all out on the site changes to avoid any mention of active players.

Who could it be??? pic.twitter.com/CzzT5HsCTO

— Dan Treacy (@DanTreacyASN) December 2, 2021

Shortly after the MLB lockout, here's the current https://t.co/WqeObZs0GV homepage. Stories about active players have been removed. pic.twitter.com/yyp6ewVTwn

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 2, 2021

Just going to https://t.co/BILXtjOBD6 and catching up on the 1995 playoffs https://t.co/ggnMT3QPAS pic.twitter.com/5bvSj16L6l

— gifdsports (@gifdsports) December 2, 2021

https://t.co/7q3aZjBeI4 finally looks how 15-year-old me always wanted it to pic.twitter.com/1FZls3CMfH

— Nick Parco (@nick_parco) December 2, 2021

https://t.co/zwIamu1WoK this morning. pic.twitter.com/9aa9J8IGDx

— Steve Buchanan (@SBuchanan24) December 2, 2021

Wow, the highlights at https://t.co/Zi2MON1c2z now are wild. pic.twitter.com/6dqkqDJUtD

— Jason Foster (@ByJasonFoster) December 2, 2021

The homepage of https://t.co/eHQ4BLwG6c is amazing. It's been the most exciting few days in recent memory and here's what they have to post. Just heinous leadership. pic.twitter.com/pb3umS0irc

— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) December 2, 2021

In solidarity with https://t.co/VXhyklLZ1s, I have decided I am also not writing about tonight's news.

Kidding. My projected bedtime is about 6 am. pic.twitter.com/6jXwudIboU

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) December 2, 2021

wow, mlb's website is wild right now pic.twitter.com/k7UXJlOez8

— Grant Brisbee (@GrantBrisbee) December 2, 2021

I am seeing many similar things on MLB teams’ websites in this lockout pic.twitter.com/o4VDbcFu0O

— Eduardo M. Gonzalez (@edmgonzalez) December 2, 2021

There are a total of THREE videos on MLB's entire website. https://t.co/xiTfCRKGCa pic.twitter.com/lGaEOiaqBE

— Ian (@_Yanathan) December 2, 2021

Twins roster looks fine on the MLB website pic.twitter.com/2LPSN2JuE2

— CJ Fogler AKA Perc70 #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) December 2, 2021

MLB’s website looks eerie without any photos of current players pic.twitter.com/q46nxo9ukh

— Gershon Rabinowitz (@GershOnline) December 2, 2021

If you go to https://t.co/nGOXZKXcAg, there isn’t a single story about the Scherzer presser or any of their signings.
“I’m gonna lock you out, Mama said lock you out.”

— Peter Botte (@PeterBotte) December 2, 2021

MLB petty af on their site lol. pic.twitter.com/W0bbaOtKep

— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) December 2, 2021

Just checked the MLB site to do some Xmas shopping, very excited to give my family these awesome jerseys! https://t.co/ErQ7wZvMBz pic.twitter.com/I3GptDJDQ4

— Hunter the BeerKid™ (@theBeerkid69) December 2, 2021

MLB wiping the site at 12pm EST pic.twitter.com/xK4zacvOIy

— Jordan White, Hot Bod Jean Jacket Daddy (@BuntSingles) December 2, 2021

This is wild—you go to to any MLB team site (the Twins, for instance), and no active player photos show up (and stories about them are…gone). Managers and coaches appear just fine. pic.twitter.com/Nr7lTCEHAR

— Norman Seawright III (@SeawrightSays) December 2, 2021

Why is the MLB Website look so different?

Here’s your answer, in case it wasn’t clear from all the tweets above.

According to the league, in order to comply with federal labor law during the lockout, MLB is making every effort to not use players’ names, images or likenesses for promotional, advertising or other commercial purposes. https://t.co/4BU2ALf4sY

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 2, 2021

Well there you have it.

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