Major League Baseball proposed delaying the start of a salary cap until the 2028 season in labor discussions with the players’ union, according to the league. The offer came Tuesday, one day after free agent negotiations opened for the 2026-27 offseason, and it marks a shift in the league’s approach as the current collective bargaining agreement nears its Dec. 1 expiration.
The proposed system would set a hard salary cap of $258.2 million and a mandatory salary floor of $180.2 million for 2028, the league announced. The delay matters because it pushes back a structural change MLB had previously sought to implement sooner, giving clubs more time to adjust their spending before a cap takes effect.
The Main Development
MLB’s new offer pairs the delayed timeline with higher cap and floor numbers than its initial pitch. Teams told the league they cannot cut spending quickly enough to operate under a cap right away, citing existing player commitments already in place for the 2027 season.
The league framed the delay as a way to ease teams into the new system. “We recognize that clubs will need a full offseason to prepare to operate within the cap and floor system,” MLB spokesman Glen Caplin said. “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.”
What It Means
MLB’s original salary cap proposal called for a $171.2 million floor and a $245.3 million ceiling, according to Sporting News. The updated terms raise both numbers by more than $9 million each, while also pushing the implementation date back a year. Sporting News characterized the shift as three changes that favor the players: a higher cap, a higher floor and a delayed start date.
MLB says the delay would not hold up other provisions the league has floated, including earlier free agency eligibility, a $1 million minimum salary and a 30% bump to the pre-arbitration bonus pool. Those pieces would move forward on their original schedule even as the cap and floor wait until 2028, based on the league’s statement.
Context
The proposal lands in the middle of an already active offseason. MLB clubs handed out $23.15 million qualifying offers to eight players this week, including Randy Arozarena, Seiya Suzuki and David Bednar and other free agents, even as the sides work through the broader cap debate. Several teams have also been trimming payroll through option decisions, including the Padres declining multiple contract options and the Tigers making similar moves on their roster.
What’s Next
A lockout is expected when the current collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1. MLB has already set a separate Dec. 1 deadline tied to the posting of NPB players amid the looming work stoppage, a date that overlaps with the CBA’s expiration and adds pressure to the ongoing talks, as detailed in MLB’s posting deadline announcement. No response from the players’ union to the latest cap proposal has been reported.
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