By Fatma Younis
Major League Baseball has proposed delaying the implementation of a salary cap until 2028, citing teams' existing financial commitments that prevent a quicker reduction in spending.
The proposal, presented to players on Tuesday, includes a hard cap of $258.2 million and a mandatory floor of $180.2 million for the 2028 season, based on luxury tax payrolls with average annual values.
MLB spokesman Glen Caplin said the delay would allow clubs a full offseason to prepare for the cap and floor system without postponing key player benefits such as earlier free agency, a $1 million minimum salary, a 30% increase to the pre-arbitration bonus pool, and transactional reforms to reduce roster churn.
The announcement came a day after free-agent negotiations for the 2026-27 offseason began.
