As New York Mets owner Steve Cohen has spent freely to upgrade his team this offseason, paying millions of dollars in luxury tax penalties in the process, there have been some rumblings about the MLB potentially having a salary cap. Well, don’t expect the players to agree to that anytime soon. It’s also not just Cohen, though, but the majority of the league’s owners aren’t spending money like the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Padres or Phillies do.
During a conversation about Major League Baseball’s new Economic Reform Committee on Saturday, MLB Players Association Executive Director, Tony Clark, made some pretty clear remarks about the future of the sport. According to MLB insider Jeff Passan of ESPN, Clark said that he believes it’s the league’s goal to eventually have a salary cap.
“We’re never going to agree to a cap,” Clark said. “Let me start there. We don’t have a cap. We’re not going to agree to a cap.”
MLBPA executive director Tony Clark, during a conversation about MLB's new Economic Reform Committee, said he believes MLB's goal is to have a salary cap.
Clark: “We’re never going to agree to a cap. Let me start there. We don’t have a cap. We’re not going to agree to a cap.”
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 25, 2023
When asked why Clark said because it’s the “ultimate restriction” on player salaries.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Tony Clark: “We’re never going to agree to a cap. Let me start there.” Asked why, he said because it is the “ultimate restriction” on player salaries.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) February 25, 2023
The MLB world reacted to Clark’s bold comments. M
“We don’t want a cap if anything baseball needs a cap floor,” one fan said.
We don't want a cap if anything baseball needs a cap floor
— Eric (follow limit) 🦞🦞 🔴⚽️🥅⚾️ 1️⃣ (@Ric3636) February 25, 2023
“Can’t imagine a majority of owners want a cap if it also comes with a floor,” said yet another fan.
Can’t imagine a majority of owners want a cap if it also comes with a floor.
— Warren (@swd2) February 25, 2023
“I think this is a super powerful statement by the union, but I would also love to see Tony Clark also come out to demand a salary floor,” said another fan.
I think this is a super powerful statement by the union, but I would also love to see Tony Clark also come out to demand a salary floor https://t.co/fq7avRvu6l
— ce (@CEnrqz) February 25, 2023
“The only consistent, revenue-based growth in a salary-capped environment is league profit plus, players restricted by a cap would have their options whittled down every offseason,” said MLB writer Tim Ryder. “It would also invite (more) collusion/suppression all bogus. Players grow the game. Pay up.”
the only consistent, revenue-based growth in a salary-capped environment is league profit
plus, players restricted by a cap would have their options whittled down every offseason. it would also invite (more) collusion/suppression
all bogus. players grow the game. pay up. https://t.co/pb9xGbA8ip
— Tim Ryder (@TimothyRRyder) February 25, 2023
