Bruce Meyer, the MLBPA’s interim executive director, did not hold back when discussing Major League Baseball’s proposed salary cap. Speaking Monday, Meyer said he was surprised by how unfavorable the proposal looked from the players’ perspective, arguing that it would actually reduce overall player earnings and significantly impact amateur players entering professional baseball.
Union Claims Salary Cap Would Hurt Player’s Paychecks
MLBPA head Bruce Meyer says MLB’s salary-cap proposal would mean “almost complete eradication” of amateur signing bonuses:https://t.co/p6R7ZUgPKy
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) June 2, 2026
“I thought they would try harder to make it look good, and they didn’t even do that,” Meyer said.
MLB’s Proposed Salary Cap
MLB’s proposal includes a salary cap of $245.3 million and a salary floor of $171.2 million beginning next season. Owners have promoted the idea as a way to improve competitive balance and help small-market teams, but the players’ union remains strongly opposed. According to Meyer, the union’s review found that players would receive a smaller share of baseball’s overall revenue under the proposal than they currently do.
Not a True Split
While MLB has promoted the plan as a 50-50 revenue split between players and owners, Meyer argued that the league’s calculations include billions of dollars in deductions before determining that split. As a result, he believes the proposal would actually leave players with less money. The union estimates that if the system had been in place for the 2026 season, players collectively would have earned more than $500 million less.
A major concern for the union is the potential impact on amateur players. Meyer said MLB’s projections appear to assume a significant reduction in signing bonuses for both domestic and international prospects. Although the league has not formally proposed changes to amateur compensation, the union believes the numbers presented make it difficult to reach MLB’s financial projections without cutting those costs dramatically.
Caplin’s Rebuttal
MLB, however, pushed back against the criticism. League spokesperson Glen Caplin said the proposal would create a more level playing field while still guaranteeing players a 50 percent share of baseball revenue. He also stated that major-league players would receive more compensation in the first year of the system than they currently earn and said the league is willing to hear a counterproposal from the union.
The two sides also continue to disagree on competitive balance and spending disparities. MLB has argued that the union’s proposal to raise the competitive balance tax threshold to $300 million would make it easier for high-spending teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers to continue outspending the rest of the league. Meyer countered that argument by noting that luxury tax payments are often included in payroll disparity discussions even though a portion of those funds is redistributed to smaller-market clubs.
Meyer also challenged the idea that payroll differences are solely caused by large-market teams spending too much. Instead, he argued that some organizations contribute to the gap by choosing not to invest heavily in their rosters. He pointed to clubs like the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, and Tampa Bay Rays as examples of teams that have remained competitive despite operating in smaller markets.
Work Stoppage Looms
With the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire on December 1st, labor tensions are already rising. Many around the industry expect owners to implement a lockout if a new agreement is not reached by then. While both sides still have time to negotiate, the debate over a salary cap appears likely to be the defining issue of the next round of labor talks.
The possibility of a work stoppage looms over the sport. The last time MLB owners seriously pursued a salary cap was during the 1994-95 labor dispute, which resulted in a lengthy strike and the cancellation of the 1994 World Series. Meyer emphasized that the players remain united and warned against underestimating the union’s resolve as negotiations move forward.
Main Photo: Jeff Curry- Imagn Images
