MLB proposes pushing its salary cap back to 2028, and the union says no

Major League Baseball changed its salary cap offer on Tuesday. The cap would now start in 2028 instead of 2027. It didn't move the players.

At a bargaining session four weeks before the labor deal expires on Dec. 1, the league proposed a $258.2 million cap and a $180.2 million floor for 2028, according to MLB.com and ESPN. Its original offer for 2027 had a $245.3 million cap and a $171.2 million floor.

"We recognize that clubs will need a full offseason to prepare to operate within the cap and floor system," MLB spokesman Glen Caplin said. "Therefore, with this offseason already underway, we proposed today to begin the cap and floor system in 2028."

The rest of the league's proposal would still start in 2027. That includes earlier free agency for players 30 and older and a $1 million minimum salary for players with at least two years of service, per CBS Sports. Everyone else would get a $900,000 minimum.

The union's answer

The Players Association put out a statement soon after.

"MLB owners continue to propose blowing up the current system and replacing it with one designed to line their pockets and increase their franchise values," the union said. It added that a "so-called 'transition year' in 2027" would still bring restrictions on contract rights, flat luxury tax thresholds and a $400 million cut in amateur signing bonuses.

Who would have to move

MLB.com used 2026 end-of-season payrolls to show who the 2028 numbers would affect. Twelve clubs would need to add a combined $636 million to reach the floor: the Marlins, Guardians, Cardinals, Rays, Nationals, White Sox, Twins, Rockies, Pirates, Athletics, Reds and the champion Brewers. Eight would need to cut a combined $528 million to get under the cap: the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays, Padres, Red Sox and Cubs.

Teams could spend as little as 90% of the floor in a given year, ESPN reported, as long as their spending over several years meets an agreed minimum.

The union's own plan keeps the current system and raises the base luxury tax threshold to $300 million, with a $1.5 million minimum salary, per ESPN.

Owners are expected to lock out the players when the deal expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1, CBS Sports reported. The last lockout, in 2021-22, lasted 99 days.