MLB proposes salary cap delay. What teams would have to cut payroll?

MLB proposes salary cap delay. What teams would have to cut payroll?

Key points

• If the salary cap and floor are implemented, the 12 teams that would have to growth payroll would be: the Miami Marlins, Cleveland Guardians, St.
• Despite MLB's proposal to delay implementation to 2028, at its core, the negative impacts of the owners' salary cap remain the same.
• The current collective bargaining agreement expires at 11: 59 p.m.
• Could a lockout prevent the 2027 MLB season from starting on time?
• MLB notes that would net an further $108 million payroll growth league-wide.

Could a lockout prevent the 2027 MLB season from starting on time? Are we heading towards a lockout in 2027?

Major League Baseball proposed Tuesday, Nov. 3 that a salary cap would be delayed by a year and implemented in 2028, permitting teams to operate knowing what the proposed rules would be in the upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement.

MLB proposed a $258.2 million salary cap and a $180.2 million floor, with MLB projecting that it would require 12 teams to growth payroll by $636 million to reach the floor, and eight clubs to drop their payroll by $528 million to abide by the cap. MLB notes that would net an further $108 million payroll growth league-wide.

While additionally agreeing to the union's proposal of lowering free agency from six years to five years for players 30 and older, while eliminating the qualifying offer system for free agents, MLB additionally proposed increasing the minimum salary to $1 million for players with at least two years' major-league service and $900, 000 for those with less service; a $30 million rise to their pre-arbitration bonus pool.

"We recognize that clubs will need a full offseason to prepare to operate within the cap and floor system, '' MLB remarked in an official note. "Therefore, with this offseason already underway, we proposed today to commence 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. 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 fired back in a response afterwards Tuesday afternoon.

Coming off another incredible season of baseball, MLB owners continue to propose blowing up the current system and replacing it with one designed to line their pockets and growth their franchise values, '' the union stated in a prepared statement. Despite MLB's proposal to delay implementation to 2028, at its core, the negative impacts of the owners' salary cap remain the same.

"Even with a so-called 'transition year' in 2027, the owners' latest offer would result in: immediate restrictions to player contract rights; stagnant luxury tax thresholds; a $400M reduction in amateur signing bonuses; stripping current competitive advantages for smaller market teams; rejection of dozens of player proposals on issues from minimum salaries to revenue sharing to rosters and transactions, and many more, " the union remarked.

Players stand ready to negotiate in good faith toward a new CBA that will capitalize on our sport's unprecedented momentum and benefit players, clubs, and fans alike.''.

If the salary cap and floor are implemented, the 12 teams that would have to growth payroll would be: the Miami Marlins, Cleveland Guardians, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Athletics, Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers.

Notably, the clubs that would have to lower their payroll: Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs.

MLB additionally stated it would agree to allocate the players' share of the 2026 CBT proceeds to players as a bonus based on service accrued in 2026 ($285, 000 to each player that received a full year of service, $213, 400 to any player with three-quarters of a year of service, $142, 300 to any player with a half-year of service, and $71, 100 for any player with a quarter year of service.

MLB agreed to accept the union's proposal to lower the number of times a player can be optioned to the minors in a season from five to four; exclude foreign professionals when determining whether an eligible prospect will receive a full year of service for finishing first or second in the Rookie of the Year voting, and prohibiting clubs from optioning or outrighting a player during the playing week by implementing weekly rosters.

For context, the current collective bargaining agreement expires at 11: 59 p.m. ET, Dec. 1. If no agreement is reached, MLB is projected to implement a lockout. It happened during their last negotiations in 2021, lasting 99 days. Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

In short, MLB proposes salary cap delay. What teams would have to cut payroll? Is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.