Major League Baseball owners have presented a new salary cap proposal to prevent further work stoppages, but it still includes a clause that the players have repeatedly refused to accept. That clause? A salary cap.
Confused?
MLB owners have proposed delaying the introduction of a salary cap and salary floor until 2028, so free agency can continue as usual this off-season. That way, teams will not be afraid to sign players because of payroll uncertainty.
“Starting in 2028 would allow a smoother transition into the cap and floor system without delaying key player benefits,” MLB wrote on social media.
However, if the players won’t agree to a salary cap, then it doesn’t matter.
MLB Owners Want A $258 Million Salary Cap And $180 Million Floor
According to Yahoo Sports, the new proposal suggests a $258.2 million salary cap and a $180.2 million salary floor, beginning in 2028. Their previous proposal was a $245.3 million cap and a $171.2 million floor.
Other changes include increasing the minimum salary for certain players to $1 million, increasing the pre-arbitration bonus pool and freeing up some players to enter free agency sooner. But as MLB owners made clear in their previous salary cap proposal, this is their top priority.
“We recognize that clubs will need a full offseason to prepare to operate within the cap and floor system. Therefore, with this offseason already underway, we proposed today to begin the cap and floor system in 2028,” MLB spokesperson Glen Caplin said in a statement, according to The Athletic. “This proposal would allow a smoother transition into the cap and floor system without delaying key player benefits, including earlier free agency, a $1 million minimum salary, a 30 percent increase to the pre-arbitration bonus pool, and transactional reform that will reduce roster churn.
“The projected salary cap and floor for 2028 continues to provide more money for major league players while leveling the playing field and giving more teams the ability to participate in the free agent market and retain their homegrown stars so that every fan believes their team has a fair chance to win it all.”
The MLBPA isn’t interested.
They argue it would suppress salaries, undermine guaranteed contracts, and ultimately put more money into team owners’ pockets.
Another MLB Lockout Could Begin In December
With the Collective Bargaining Agreement set to expire on December 1, another lockout will almost certainly occur if the players and owners don’t reach a deal. The last lockout was for 99 days, from December 2021 to March 2022.
In addition to a salary cap, MLB has proposed reducing the regular season to just 154 games and altering the playoff system. Players are worried about how this could affect their earning potential, as well as a proposed change to the amateur draft.
While the players are surely happy to delay a salary cap for another year, they do not currently seem willing to accept the idea in any form. If nothing changes between now and December 1, fans could be left with another off-season of frustrating labor talks. Again.