Sports · Baseball · 58 mins ago
MLB proposes starting salary cap system in 2028
Major League Baseball proposed delaying its salary cap and floor system until 2028 in its latest offer to players.
The proposed 2028 limits are a $258.2 million cap and a $180.2 million floor, both higher than figures in the league’s June proposal.
MLB says the delay would give teams time to prepare, while other proposed changes, including earlier free agency and higher minimum pay for some players, would begin in 2027.
The players’ union has repeatedly rejected a salary cap and floor, and has proposed changing revenue sharing so more money goes from big-market teams to small-market teams.
The current labor agreement expires on Dec.
1, and owners are expected to lock out players if no new deal is reached, shutting down league business until an agreement is made.
MLB says a cap and floor would improve competitive balance, and the two sides still need to negotiate a new agreement.
Major League Baseball proposed delaying a salary cap and floor system until the 2028 season.
The league said the delay would give teams a full offseason to prepare and adjust payrolls.
The proposal sets a $258.2 million salary cap and a $180.2 million floor, both higher than in MLB’s June proposal.
The MLB Players Association has repeatedly said it will not accept a cap and floor system.
The current collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1, and owners are expected to lock out players then.
- Who
- Major League Baseball proposed the plan. The MLB Players Association opposes a salary cap and floor system.
- What
- MLB proposed starting a salary cap and floor system in 2028, with a $258.2 million cap and a $180.2 million floor.
- When
- Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. The proposal came after free agency began on Monday night.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- MLB said the delay would give teams a full offseason to prepare and allow a smoother transition to the system.
Major League Baseball
MLB Players Association
Salary system
Major League Baseball
MLB proposed a salary cap and floor system starting in 2028.
MLB Players Association
The union has repeatedly said it will not accept a salary cap and floor system.
Alternative approach
Major League Baseball
MLB says the cap and floor system is intended to improve competitive balance.
MLB Players Association
The union proposed a revised revenue-sharing system that would direct more money from big-market teams to small-market teams.
Free agency began, according to Sporting News.
MLB announced its proposal to begin the cap and floor system in 2028.
The collective bargaining agreement is due to expire at 11:59 p.m. ET, and owners are expected to lock out the players at that time.
- Proposed start
- 2028 season
- Proposed salary cap
- $258.2 million
- Proposed salary floor
- $180.2 million
- Minimum salary
- $1 million for players with at least two years of service time; $900,000 for all other players
- CBA expiration
- 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1
4 sources
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What people are saying
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,
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% increase to the pre-arbitration bonus pool, and transactional reform that will reduce roster churn.