Overview
- Manfred told ESPN on Sunday that MLB and the players' union are meeting regularly and that the league is “planning on playing baseball next year.”
- Owners have proposed a hard salary cap of $245.3 million with a hard floor of $171.2 million as a central bargaining demand.
- The MLBPA firmly opposes any payroll cap and has offered alternatives such as a competitive integrity tax for the lowest-spending teams, higher minimum salaries, and bigger bonus pools before arbitration.
- Owners point to extreme payroll gaps — the Dodgers reportedly had a $345 million payroll and large luxury-tax bills — as the main justification for a cap and some owners are reported to be willing to risk the 2027 season to win one.
- With the current collective bargaining agreement expiring on Dec. 1, the next major milestone to watch is whether the sides resolve pay and revenue-sharing splits before that date or if owners impose a lockout.