Major League Baseball owners have proposed implementing a salary cap and salary floor beginning with the 2028 season, according to a report published Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The proposal marks a significant shift in MLB's economic structure, which has historically operated without a hard cap on team payrolls.
The plan was discussed as Commissioner Rob Manfred addressed media ahead of Game 1 of the 2026 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee. While details of the cap and floor levels were not disclosed, the move signals owners' desire for greater cost certainty and competitive balance.
MLB currently uses a competitive balance tax that penalizes teams exceeding certain payroll thresholds, but a true salary cap would represent a fundamental change. The players' union has historically opposed a salary cap, viewing it as a restriction on player earnings. Negotiations on the proposal are expected to be a central topic in upcoming collective bargaining talks.
