MLB owners push salary‑cap plan as players union and Trump weigh in

Major League Baseball owners have unveiled a salary‑cap‑and‑floor proposal that would set a floor of $171.2 million and a cap of $245.3 million per team by 2027, coupled with revenue‑sharing measures intended to improve competitive balance. The plan would also include an escrow system and a 50‑50 split of league revenues if MLB meets its revenue forecasts.

The MLB Players Association has rejected the proposal, arguing it would undermine player salaries, especially for star athletes, and likening the plan to the NFL’s system, which it deems unnecessary for baseball. Teams with large existing contracts, such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, would need special “grandfathering” provisions, delaying the cap’s effect.

During a press briefing on Air Force One, former President Donald Trump publicly backed the owners, stating that “if you don’t have a salary cap you don’t have a sport” and urging MLB to adopt a cap similar to other major North‑American leagues.