ATLANTA — Tony Clark, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, believes that MLB owners already are preparing for a lockout after the 2026 season if they don’t get a salary cap in the next collective bargaining agreement – but insists that a cap would be detrimental to the entire sport.
“Institutionalized collusion, that’s what a salary cap is …’ Clark told the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. “A cap is not about a partnership. A cap isn’t about growing the game. A cap is about franchise values and profits. …
“A salary cap historically has limited contract guarantees associated with it, literally pits one player against another and is often what we share with players as the definitive non-competitive system. It doesn’t reward excellence. It undermines it from an organizational standpoint. That’s why this is not about competitive balance. It’s not about fair versus not fair. …
“The history is more lockouts, more work stoppages as a result of that system being in place.’
Baseball has had nine work stoppages, with the last lockout lasting 99 days in 2021-2022. The two sides reached an agreement on a five-year deal on March 10, 2022 which expires on Dec. 1, 2026.
Clark is concerned that another lockout is nearly inevitable simply based on the threats he already is hearing from MLB and the ownership ranks. The union is withholding all of their licensing checks for a potential work stoppage fund.
“It begs the question as to whether or not we’re going to have a good faith negotiation,’’ Clark said. “That remains to be seen when somebody tells you they’re going to lock you out a year and a half out, rather than sit down at the table and see if we can figure our way through that.’
MLB has pushed for a salary cap for years, saying it’s necessary for competitive balance, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets having nearly five times the $69 million payroll of the Miami Marlins. There has been no repeat World Series winner since the New York Yankees from 1998-2000, but the last small-market team to win the World Series was the Kansas City Royals in 2015.
Manfred has informed players in his meetings with teams that a salary cap could be advantageous economically, saying that 10% of the players earn 72% of the wages, and that a cap would greatly enhance competive balance.
“When I talk to the players, I don’t try to convince them that a salary cap system would be a good thing,” Manfred said, hours before the All-Star Game. “I identify a problem in the media business and explain to them that owners need to change to address that problem. I then identify a second problem that we need to work together and that is that there are fans in a lot of our markets who feel like we have a competitive balance problem’
Clark strongly disagrees that a salary cap will increase competitive balance in the game, saying plenty of teams have money, based on the financial information they receive, but choose not to be competitive.
“We believe there are ways to incentivize and provide support to those who are in a different market than in LA or New York,’ Clark said. “There’s an opportunity to do that, and do so to the benefit of the group that doesn’t require a restriction on player salaries to do so.’
MLB proposed a salary floor in the last CBA, forcing small market teams to spend at least $100 million, but Clark says that with a floor, there is always a catch.
“Let me clear on this, we’ve never been opposed to a floor,’ Clark said. “We’re opposed with what comes with it, or at least historically has.’
Will MLB stars play in 2028 LA Olympics?
Manfred and Clark spoke for about 45 minutes apiece, covering a wide-ranging array of topics highlighted by the possibility of MLB considering permitting its major-league players to play in the 2028 Olympics if certain conditions are met. MLB would want Olympic games to be played during an extended All-Star break.
“They put out a schedule, they tell you it’s not going to move,’ Manfred said, “we’ll see whether there’s any movement on that. It is possible to take it, to play the All-Star Game in its normal spot, have a single break that would be longer obviously, but still play 162 games without bleeding into the middle of November.
“That is possible, OK? It would require significant accommodations, but it’s possible.’
Los Angeles Olympic organizers met in Atlanta separately with MLB officials and the union, and see a glimmer of hope that MLB players could be in the Olympics, although major obstacles remain.
“In the event that MLB players are going to play, what does that mean and what does that look like?” Clark said. “And perhaps just as importantly, what does it mean for those players who aren’t participating? What type of scheduling adjustments need to be made? What type travel considerations and support need to considered? What does that means in regards to insurance? …
“There’s a lot of work that still needs to be done. We do know players are interested in playing, whether it’s for Team USA or any number of other teams around the world. There’s just a lot of conversation that needs to be had sooner rather than later to see how viable this is, but we’re hopeful that we can figure our way through it for the benefit of the game.”
Says Manfred: ‘I think it is a opportunity to market the game on a really global stage. Obviously, the clubs are going to have to endorse this. I mean, this it’s a big deal.”
Rays stadium status for postseason
MLB said the Tampa Bay Rays will play all of their potential postseason games at George M. Steinbrenner Field, and that Tropicana Field will be ready for their return in 2026.
MLB All-Star Game roster concerns
MLB is concerned with the number of players dropping out of the All-Star game, with 16 alternate players chosen, and not counting at least 10 others who rejected offers to participate. Clark says they have proposed different ideas, and believes that the rigorous travel schedule – with every team now playing each other – has caused a number of players to prefer staying home.
“The requirements for players, the travel and the logistics of their family and support, the day-to-day of a 162-game season,’ Clark said, “is more complex and more challenging than it’s ever been. …We’ve gotten feedback from some of the guys already in regards to things we may want to be thinking about when we talk to the league, whether that’s a longer period of time, or whether that’s different requirements, or different scheduling, or different timing.’’
Said Manfred: “I think what we have to do is continue to work with our very best players to make sure that they’re here and showcasing themselves in front of a fan base. That’s really, really important to us over the long haul.’’
Pitching injuries pile up
Clark remains concerned with the rash of pitching injuries, particularly Tommy John surgeries, which has completely decimated several pitching staffs this season.
“To say that it keeps me up at night is an understatement,’ Clark said. “The game has changed. How pitchers are being used has changed dramatically. And what it is that teams are interested in pitchers doing has changed dramatically. … I think there are a number of factors that are leading to what we are seeing in our game. …
“Pitching injuries and their effects on those players, both in the near term and the long term, let alone their teams, let alone the fans that come to the ballpark, is a personal issue for me.’’
When will ABS system be implemented?
There remains a strong opposition from players towards the automatic-ball strike challenge system that is being used in the All-Star Game, with MLB hoping it implement it for the 2026 season.
No betting on baseball – obviously
Players are continually reminded that gambling in baseball is prohibited, Clark said, no matter if it’s a small parlay or winter-league games – and still worries about the gambling element affecting players.
“We want to make sure that players are protected, their families are protected,’ Clark said. “We found some players in some tough spots as a result of the new climate that we are in. We found family members in tough spots as a result of the climate that we are in. The game is hard enough, let alone having to deal with those types of outside influences.’
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