The MLB is going to die.
Okay — probably not die, but things aren’t looking good. One glaring problem is creating an unsettling environment for baseball’s fans, managers and players.
The cause for concern is the nonexistence of a salary cap. Bleacher Report defines a salary cap as “an agreement between the league and players that places a limit on the amount of money a team can spend on salaries for players.” The purpose of this rule is to create an even playing field for all organizations within the league.
Major League Baseball has never implemented a salary cap, and big-market teams are starting to take advantage of it. With some managers willing to pay far more than others on their teams, the playing field in the MLB is far from even.
In 2025, the team with the highest projected payroll is the Los Angeles Dodgers with $392 million. The Miami Marlins have the lowest projection with $70 million. In other words, the Dodgers are paying each player 5.6 times what the Marlins are paying. This allows the reigning World Series champions to get better and better year after year through trades and free agency.
Free agency is a period in the MLB where teams can reach out to players with potential offers. These players can then decide what team they want to play for based on these offers and sign a contract to play wherever they please. Without a salary cap in place, nothing is stopping the large-market teams like the Dodgers or Yankees from outbidding the rest of the league for a superstar free agent.
Other major sports leagues like the NBA, NHL and NFL have all implemented salary caps. Thanks to the balanced rules in these associations, fans can experience the occasional beloved underdog story. This, unfortunately, isn’t the case in the MLB.
According to Baseball America, only three World Series champions — the 2017 Astros, 2015 Royals and 2003 Marlins — ranked in the bottom half of MLB in opening day payroll. The 2017 Astros (Justin Verlander) and 2015 Royals (Johnny Cueto, Ben Zobrist) both made midseason trades that put them into the top half of payroll by the end of the season.
Teams on the lower half of the league’s payroll can’t expect to be competitive in the postseason, if they even make it that far. The imbalance of salaries across the MLB is eroding the entertainment value of the league. Fans of smaller market teams are unhappy with the product that is being displayed throughout the span of 162-game seasons.
If the MLB doesn’t adapt soon, powerhouse franchises will continue to dominate, and there will be nothing but consolation prizes for the bottom half of the league’s spenders.
j.leone@dailyutahchronicle.com
The post A Deep Look Into the MLB’s Salary Cap Issue first appeared on The Daily Utah Chronicle.