MLBPA Exec Responds to Poll Calling for MLB Salary Cap, Says It Would Be 'Worse for Fans'

The Athletic recently polled MLB fans and found that 68 percent prefer a salary cap and salary floor, which is also one of the main goals of league owners as they negotiate a new collective-bargaining agreement with players.

In the past, a cap system has been a complete non-starter for the players, and MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer believes it would actually be bad for fans as well.

"There are also a lot of fans who think their owners should sell their teams," he told The Athletic's Charlotte Varnes and Evan Drellich in response to the fan poll. "And, for some reason, they don't seem to want to do that. We're very cognizant of the fans, and actually think a salary-cap system is worse for fans, because it basically prevents teams that want to make their team better from doing so. It basically is an ultimate restriction on competition and the ability of teams to do what they think is best to build the best team for the fans."

On one hand, the current system has allowed the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets of the world to spend lavishly compared to most teams in the sport. That makes it difficult for the smaller market teams to compete.

On the other hand, the lack of a salary floor might actually be the bigger issue. With so many MLB franchises spending a pittance on payroll, there are fewer suitors for top free agents, which means the best option is often signing with the Dodgers and Mets of the world. If more teams were spending more, the talent would naturally be spread out more evenly.

For now, it seems to be an all-or-nothing proposition—a cap-and-floor system or keeping the current one in place. And the debate over which prevails seems very likely to ultimately cause another lockout in the sport ahead of the 2027 season.