After an MLB Insider report last week that projected a salary cap of around $260M-280M and a salary floor of around $140M-160M, baseball would be set down a long and winding road; one nearly impossible to navigate.
Baseball struggled for years to create new fans and make the game enjoyable. However, since Shohei Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Dodgers on a $700M contract, viewership has skyrocketed, ticket sales are up in nearly every ballpark and people who never used to watch baseball are becoming interested in the game.
Whether it’s because of Ohtani and his fandom or everyone’s least favorite team, the Dodgers, baseball is exciting. Still, over the last two years, the Dodgers have won back-to-back Championships and ignited the fire for change and less discrepancy between teams.
Before the report about potential numbers for the cap and floor, most fans agreed on one thing: The need for a salary cap. However, while many fans still think a salary cap is good, this is not what many were visualizing.
As of right now, if the salary cap were set at $270M today, five teams would be over the cap: the Dodgers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, and Philadelphia Phillies. In the last three seasons, every team reached either the World Series or League Championship Series and has had immense success.
On the other hand, many fans believe a salary floor would make the game more competitive and the “bad” teams would get better.
Accordingly, if the salary floor were set at $150M today, about 12 teams would be under the cap, including the Marlins, who sit at half the floor for the 2026 season. These are the same Marlins who had their second-best season in nine years with a record of 79-83 and eliminated the Mets from playoff contention in the final regular-season game.
There were just two playoff teams last season within this projected salary floor — the Milwaukee Brewers and Cleveland Guardians, who similarly did nothing to bolster their squads and even traded away star players. Again, while money does not guarantee success and championships, it certainly helps.
If there is one thing that needs to be changed, it is the owners. Owners like Bob Nutting of the Pirates and John Fisher of the Athletics have received high criticism for the job they have done for years, especially with the exciting young players on their rosters. These owners refuse to spend money on free agents, who would help fill the gaps in these mildly successful teams.
Again, as stated previously, a cap or floor will not fix anything in baseball, as seen in other major sports.
If baseball were to implement a cap, it would likely create a similar dynamic to the NFL. Over the past five years, the NFL’s salary cap has risen by nearly $100M. Just ten years ago, it was around $155M, about half of what it is for the upcoming NFL season. If baseball were to implement a salary cap, the same thing would happen, and the spending teams would continue to spend right to the limit and afford to do it every year.
Additionally, the price has to be paid, literally. The Dodgers and Mets will have to pay high luxury taxes, as well as players with deferred contracts. It is unsustainable unless the owners choose to sell their team. Other teams can either wait for these runs to end and develop their prospects during this time or compete against these big teams. In playoff baseball, anything can happen.
On the other hand, a floor could turn the MLB into something similar to the NBA. In basketball, teams must spend at least 90% of the salary cap on players’ salaries. This results in players like Paul George getting over $50M a year at 35 years old and Jrue Holiday making over $30M, also at 35 years old. These players might have deserved this money ten years ago, but not anymore.
Despite baseball having more players and an entire farm system to support, many players would still earn way more than they deserve.
On that thought, if a salary cap or floor is not the answer, then what does baseball need to do?
The solution is simple. Let the kids play. The sport is on the rise for the first time in years, and shutting it down is wrong. A lockout would lose fans, old and young. Whether it would be a full season or part of one, fewer baseball games are not ideal for fans, and especially not for players who want to get paid.
If baseball continues on the current road and does nothing, the correct fix will come along. The sport is always competitive, and with 162 games and playoffs, anything can happen. A salary cap or floor will prevent baseball from becoming the best version of itself.
Just let the kids play.