• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 11, 2025

MLB, Players’ Union Spar Over Salary Cap As Labor Fight Looms

Next year’s labor talks between MLB and the MLB Players Association were already expected to be rugged. A top union official gave further clues as to the bumpy road ahead. 

Bruce Meyer and Tony Clark of the MLBPA
Palm Beach Post

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred insists that team owners have not codified their set of proposals for next year’s labor talks with the MLB Players Association. Union deputy executive director Bruce Meyer, however, disagrees entirely and says management is already pushing hard for a salary cap—something that could further position the sport toward an ugly battle next year. 

Speaking this week on the Foul Territory show, Meyer said, “The league and some of the individual owners have made no secret that they would like to see a system that they tried to get for 50 years, which is a salary-cap system.”

MLB is the only major North American pro league that does not have a salary cap. Owners’ desire for one, though, has created many significant labor rifts over the past several decades, most notably in 1994 when the end of the regular season, playoffs, and World Series were lost to a players’ strike. MLBPA officials have long believed that a salary cap serves as a restraint on player compensation. 

Manfred said last month that no decisions have been made on a salary cap or any other specific labor proposal. What he has done, though, is meet with individual players to detail a broader platform for change, and Manfred has been quite frank that he doesn’t believe MLBPA senior leaders are interested in spearheading large-scale economic transformation. 

“The strategy is to get directly to the players,” Manfred said at a recent investors day for the publicly traded Braves. “I don’t think the leadership of this union is anxious to lead the way to change. So we need to energize the workforce in order to get them familiar with or supportive of the idea that maybe changing the system could be good for everybody.”

Meyer, conversely, said he views that as another move to split sentiment among the players.

“It’s kind of a continuation of a pattern which has gone on for decades, which is, the other side … tries to go directly to players, tries to create divisions between players,” Meyer said.

The current labor agreement expires in December 2026, and formal bargaining is expected to begin early next year. 

Fiscal Divides

The situation, meanwhile, is developing as MLB continues to grapple with expanding economic disparity within the sport. The Dodgers’ luxury-tax payroll currently stands at $406 million, a league record and more than quadruple the No. 30 Marlins at $85 million. 

Meyer said such a measure doesn’t reflect the full nature of the sport, which hasn’t had a repeat World Series winner since the Yankees of 1998–2000.

“I think the whole premise is wrong,” he said. “To fans in small markets, I would say, ‘Look, competition is crucial for us, crucial for players. Our market system that we have, it’s not perfect by any means, but it relies on competition.’ To the extent that we have teams that are unwilling to compete, it’s not because the Dodgers went out and signed some players. That doesn’t explain why the Pittsburgh Pirates, for example, don’t go out and spend money.”

Meyer also pointed to negative outcomes in other leagues that use a cap.

“Every [NFL] free-agent period is like a bloodbath,” Meyer said. “They’re cutting players, players at all levels—Pro Bowl players, middle-class players—to try and squeeze in a salary for a quarterback. Even the quarterbacks, they go to them continuously and say, ‘Well, would you take less so we could sign this guy?’”

MLB playoff outcomes, indeed, have been historically disparate, but there remains a fairly strong long-term correlation between payroll spending and entry to the postseason. Since the Royals won the 2015 World Series, every subsequent winner has been from a top-10 U.S. media market. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Stephen Curry celebrates after sinking the winning putt during the final round of the American Century Celebrity Championship golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nev., Sunday, July 16, 2023.

Golf’s Hottest Celebrity Tournament Keeps Getting More Exclusive

The American Century Championship tees off at Lake Tahoe on Friday.
Jul 10, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Iga Swiatek of Poland at her on court interview after winning her match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland on day 11 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Wimbledon Set to Deliver Strong Finals Matchup for ESPN

Novak Djokovic is still in the hunt for his 25th Grand Slam.
Oct 27, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; A general view of the Wells Fargo Center before game between Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens.

New Philly Arena Will Redefine Home-Court Advantage, CEO Says

The forthcoming venue will arrive with plenty of ambition among its owners.

Jalen Williams Signs Max Deal As Thunder Commit $822M to 3 Stars

Oklahoma City also extended Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.

Featured Today

Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell during the NFLPA press conference at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

NFLPA Head Has Side Hustle With PE Firm That Can Invest in..

The NFLPA’s executive director is embroiled in multiple controversies.
Crystal Palace FC
July 10, 2025

Crystal Palace’s Europa League Spot in Limbo After Lyon Wins Appeal

The ruling on Olympique Lyonnais was overturned this week on appeal.
July 10, 2025

Murphy: Club WC Snags Won’t Derail Biggest Event ‘in Human History’

New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium is the concluding site of both FIFA events.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 9, 2025

U.K. Appoints New Soccer Regulator, EPL Matches Stay Behind Paywall

Men’s soccer in England will receive new levels of oversight.
July 9, 2025

NFL’s Alternate Uniforms Fuel Big Business—and Lots of Nostalgia

The Commanders kick off a run of new NFL helmets and uniforms.
Jul 8, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Chelsea FC forward Pedro Neto (7) applauds fans after a semifinal match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium.
July 9, 2025

Trump to Attend Club World Cup Final

Chelsea will face Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.
July 8, 2025

Has the WNBA Outgrown the Matinee Madness of Camp Days?

Caitlin Clark will return from injury in a Wednesday noon game.