New York (AFP) – Major League Baseball proposed delaying the start of a salary cap until the 2028 season on Tuesday as free agency began ahead of the approaching expiration of its collective bargaining agreement. The move would make it easier for clubs to sign players in free agency, which started on Monday, ahead of the December 1 expiration of the deal with the MLB Players Association.
The players union has rejected any consideration of a salary cap and that stance, together with club owners’ desire to start such a system, has set the stage for what many expect will be a prolonged work stoppage beginning next month. MLBPA officials have said the players stand to lose more than $1 billion under a salary cap system.
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In a social media posting, MLB tossed out a projected salary cap of $258.2 million for its proposed 2028 start, with a projected salary floor of $180.2 million. Those amounts are up slightly from previously reported original sums MLB pitched of a $245.3 million cap and $171.2 million floor.
“With free agency already underway and recognizing that clubs will need a full off-season to operate within the cap and floor system, MLB is proposing to phase in the salary cap and floor in 2028,” the league said in the statement. “The projected cap and floor payrolls for 2028 would make 12 clubs increase payroll by $636M to reach the floor, and 8 clubs to decrease payroll $528M to reach the cap. Overall, this would net a $108M payroll increase. Starting in 2028 would allow a smoother transition into the cap and floor system without delaying key player benefits.”
The MLB proposal would mean the current luxury tax system for teams that exceed certain salary levels would remain in place for the 2027 MLB campaign.
© 2024 AFP
