All 30 MLB teams are financially preparing for a potential work stoppage, including the most historic and famous of them all.The New York Yankees face elimination from the 2026 playoffs, currently 2-0 down to the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Divisional Series.The Yankees need three wins in a row to advance to the next round of the playoffsGettyGame 3 of the series will be played at the iconic Yankee Stadium, if they lose, the next time they welcome fans through the turnstiles remains up in the air.Major League Baseball‘s collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, and there are gaps between the players and the ownerson key issues.The implementation of a salary cap, free-agency eligibility, and minor-league salary remain big talking points, and it’s widely expected to result in a work stoppage.“MLB’s owners are virtually certain to lock out the players in early December, when the sport’s current labor deal expires,” The Athletic’s Evan Drellich wrote.“No one knows whether a shutdown will shorten the sport’s 162-game regular season, but if it does, 60 games — roughly the end of May, by the current MLB schedule — will bring perhaps the most crucial leverage point.”MLB hasn’t canceled a game due to a labor conflict in 30 years, but its certainly trending that way, and the Yankees are prepared.Yankee Stadium has cash cushion in case games are cutAn empty ballpark could make it difficult for the Yankees to cover their costs.Over two tranches, the organization borrowed $1.2 billion in bonds to build the new Yankee Stadium, repaying $76 million per year — a debt service largely covered by ticket sales, food, and drink.The Yankees have a plan in place in case they can’t generate the money through their attending fans.Yankee Stadium’s holding company has a reserve fund earmarked for the potential lockout that holds six months of debt service.The Yankees have $120m in cash to cover payments if the lockout runs through the regular seasonGettyThe Yankees, owned by Hal Steinbrenner, have a net worth of $8.5bnGettyAdditionally, it has another reserve fund package, with a more generalized mandate, equivalent to a full year of payments.Combined, the Yankees have just shy of $120 million stashed away to cover their stadium commitments if it’s unable to open it’s doors to fans.What happens if the lockout goes ahead?Assuming neither side overhauls their ambitions between now and December, what happens next is as follows.The World Series will end, and five days later free agency will begin.At the general managers’ meetings in Las Vegas, several free agent deals will take place, if previous pre-lockout behavior is repeated.Teams will hire managers and coaches and make trades. If there is no CBA in place at 11:59 pm Eastern on Dec. 1, the owners will lock out the players, and everyone will stop at 0:00 on Dec. 2.MLB was locked out for 99 days in 2022, but this is trending towards a longer stoppageGettyWhen the lockout begins, teams can no longer talk to players. The Winter Meetings may be canceled, and the Rule 5 draft may be postponed too.For now, the MLB playoffs are in full swing, meaning the last few weeks of normalcy are upon the baseball world.Things will change ahead of next season — what, and how much remains to be seen.But at this point, what no one seems to know, including those involved in the negotiations, is how, and when, it will end.