MLB Potentially Proposing Salary Cap & Floor With $100 Million Gap

"MLB is the only one of the four major American sports without a minimum and maximum limit to spending, and some owners may be looking to change that. According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the early projections from the league suggest a salary cap of around $260-280 million, along with a salary floor of around $140-160 million."

"Going off the median for projections of a $270 million cap and a $150 million floor, that puts the floor as about 56% of the ceiling. Requiring teams to spend at least 56% of the cap would be far lower than all other sports. As it stands, NFL teams are required to spend 89% of their cap (over a four-year period), while the NBA requires teams to spend at 90% of the cap."

"That lays a strong foundation for the players to request a floor of at least 80%, which puts the salary floor closer to $216 million. Entering 2026, only 12 teams have a payroll that high, and only 14 have a payroll of at least $200 million."

MLB and the Players Association are negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement expiring after the 2026 season, with financial terms and competitive balance as central issues. MLB remains the only major American sport without salary spending limits. League projections propose a $260-280 million salary cap with a $140-160 million floor, representing only 56% of the ceiling. This ratio is substantially lower than other sports: the NFL requires 89% spending, the NBA requires 90%, and the NHL requires 75%. Players are expected to resist the cap proposal and likely demand a floor closer to 80%, approximately $216 million, which only 12 current teams meet.

Read at Dodger Blue