MLB players send strong messages to Rob Manfred about salary cap after lockout comments

During the ESPN broadcast of this year's edition of the Little League Classic game in August, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred insisted that "we’re planning on playing baseball next year" amid fears about what many feel is an inevitable lockout. 

The collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association expires on Dec. 1, 2026, and it's no secret that the union has a long history of fighting against a salary cap. For a piece published on Wednesday, ESPN "asked more than two dozen current major leaguers for their unfiltered answers on" a variety of topics, including a possible cap. 

It sounds like the players are ready for a long work stoppage. 

"Zero chance" players accept a salary cap?

Of the 11 answers that were shared by ESPN, nine players made it known they're against a salary cap. 

Specifically, one said he is "not open" at all to discussing a cap. Two different players said there is "zero" chance the union would accept a hard salary cap. 

"Get ready to see a bunch of schoolteachers and whatnot out there, because we're not playing if there's a cap," a fourth player warned. 

In May, Evan Drellich of The Athletic noted that the league proposed a salary cap of $245.3M, a salary floor of $171.2M and a 50-50 split of revenues. In a statement, league spokesperson Glen Caplin said at the time that "our salary cap and floor proposal levels the playing field while sharing baseball revenue with the players 50-50 as we grow the game together." 

One player who spoke with ESPN explained why union members are against the idea. 

"They're going to make it look really good for the first one," the player said about a potential salary cap. "But then every five years, we're going to have to renegotiate, we're going to have no power, and they're just going to keep cutting our piece of the pie smaller. So the first one will look good."

Are surveyed players willing to lose regular-season games to fight against a salary cap? 

While Opening Day 2022 was pushed back because of a lockout, the two sides eventually came to an agreement for teams to play full 162-game schedules. Of six answers shared by ESPN, five players hinted that fans should be ready for an altered 2027 season if one takes place at all. 

"As many as it takes, but the lockout's not up to us. I would say yes," one player said about the number of games that could be scrapped due to a lockout. "It's out of our control, though."

A different player predicted the season won't start "until June," while a third said that "there are going to be some games that will be lost." 

At this point, it would be downright shocking if baseball fans got good news about the 2027 season before the year comes to an end. What happens beyond that regarding the next Opening Day is anybody's guess as of Sept. 2, 2026.