MLB owners push salary cap and 5‑year contract limits for free agents

Major League Baseball owners have tabled a collective‑bargaining proposal that would introduce a hard salary cap of $245.3 million and a floor of $171.2 million. The plan caps free‑agent contracts at five years and $202 million for players changing teams, and at six years and $265 million for those re‑signing with their current club. It also eliminates deferred compensation, removes qualifying offers, and raises the minimum salary to $1 million for players with two years of service (and $900,000 plus a $100,000 bonus for those with less than two years).

The owners argue the changes will “level the playing field” for small‑market teams, while the MLB Players Association says the proposals are detrimental to player earnings. MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer stated, “I have never seen this degree of unity at this point among agents and players… the league has done us a favor because their proposals are… extremely bad for players.”

Union leaders warn the differing positions could trigger a lockout before the current CBA expires on Dec. 1, potentially halting games for the first time since 1995.