Does MLB Need a Salary Cap?

By : Mike Rifkin

It’s been reported that over the weekend that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred met with the Philadelphia Phillies in New York to discuss multiple things including a salary cap in the next CBA. The current CBA (collective bargaining agreement) will expire December 1st 2026. According to the reports Phillies superstar Bryce Harper got in Manfred’s face and had a heated discussion after the commissioner suggested a salary cap. But does baseball need a salary cap?

Now, I will be the first one to say that some of these massive contracts handed out in Baseball are ridiculous. I think it’s insane that Shohei Ohtani (who got a 700 million dollar contract) technically makes two million because of deferred money. Quite a few teams did lose money when Diamond Sports Group, which owned Bally Sports went bankrupt, and MLB had to step in and have some local games produced and distributed by them. 

Now, while I think some of the contracts are ridiculous, I also despise owners who refuse to spend money. There’s no reason to punish teams like the Dodgers, Mets and others who will spend money, while teams like the Pirates, White Sox, etc… don’t spend a dime to improve their teams. There’s no reason for people to talk about the Pirates trading ace Paul Skenes, who is in just his second season, but because people in the game know the Pirates will not pay him, we’re already hearing those rumblings. There are times when these small market teams will make a splash and it doesn’t work, just look at the Rockies when they signed Kris Bryant to a seven year 182 million dollar contract. Since signing with the Rockies Bryant has played in 170 games and has 17 homers and 61 RBI’S along with a slash line of .244/.324/.370 along with a .695 OPS and has a WAR of -1.6. Injuries have been the big reason for Bryant’s struggles with the Rockies and you could sympathize with that. When the Rockies traded star third baseman Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals, one they didn’t get a ton back for one of the best players in the game, but they also paid the Cardinals 50 million dollars to take the contract. 

Let’s be honest here even if Baseball were to institute a salary cap, I’m not sure that changes things. For me the thing that changes everything are the owners. Do owners want to win or do they want to just profit, if the answer is profit, then they should sell their franchise and allow their fans to get some hope. Despite being in bigger markets, the Mets and Dodgers, who did spend money prior to being sold, they were a little more cautious, but once they were sold they’ve spent money and it has reignited the passion in the fanbases. So, baseball shouldn’t institute a cap, just get owners who are willing to give a damn.