PHILADELPHIA — Paul Skenes, Juan Soto, and Bryce Harper are among baseball’s All-Stars who say players never will agree to a salary cap but maintain there’s plenty of time to avoid a conflict that could shorten the 2027 season.
“Both sides kind of have their line that they’re not going to cross,” Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates ace who also is a member of the union’s eight-man negotiating committee, said. “Whether that results in missing games or missing a season, we’ll see.”
Baseball’s five-year labor contract expires Dec. 1 and MLB is expected to immediately lock out players. The more consequential deadline is in late February or early March, when Major League Baseball would announce whether it was postponing opening day.
Owners proposed a salary cap for the first time since the union fought off MLB’s cap plan with a 7 1/2-month strike in 1994-95 that caused the first cancellation of the World Series since 1904. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says a cap is needed to lessen payroll disparity.
Soto, who signed a record 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets as a free agent after the 2024 season, would be limited to a six-year, $265 million deal under MLB’s proposal.
“Both sides kind of have their line that they’re not going to cross,” Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates ace who also is a member of the union’s eight-man negotiating committee, said. “Whether that results in missing games or missing a season, we’ll see.”
Baseball’s five-year labor contract expires Dec. 1 and MLB is expected to immediately lock out players. The more consequential deadline is in late February or early March, when Major League Baseball would announce whether it was postponing opening day.
Owners proposed a salary cap for the first time since the union fought off MLB’s cap plan with a 7 1/2-month strike in 1994-95 that caused the first cancellation of the World Series since 1904. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says a cap is needed to lessen payroll disparity.
Soto, who signed a record 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets as a free agent after the 2024 season, would be limited to a six-year, $265 million deal under MLB’s proposal.
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