With the 2026 MLB season approaching, and a lockout in 2027 almost guaranteed, everything points to one cause: the spending problem. The richer get better, while shitty owners who don’t like to spend money get even worse. So, it points to the problem, do we need a salary cap and floor?

The argument for a salary cap and floor:

Point 1: The LA Dodgers (and others)

The Dodgers outspend everyone. They have a combined total AAV of $436,251,667 (https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/aav), which is the highest in the league. For comparison, they spend more than four teams, them being the Guardians, White Sox, Nationals, and Marlins. They’ve won the last two World Series. They’re easily the favorite to win this year. They just got arguably the best closer in baseball. They just got Kyle Tucker.

The Mets just paid a shitload for Bo Bichette, just to have him play 3rd? And Alex Bregman just got paid a contract with a $35 million AAV from the Cubs? It’s impossible for small market teams to match that.

Teams complain about the Dodgers all the time, me included, but I think we also have to look at one other thing, being:

Point 2: Cheap ownership

I’ve never seen a league with as many garbage owners as the MLB. At least 7+ teams have owners who do not want to spend money. So teams can complain about LA and NYM all they want, but people have to realize that there are owners who simply don’t want to win, and this screws over fans, players, etc.

I think a salary floor would force these teams to at least spend some cash o try and be competitive. For example, for the 2 Marlins fans out there, I feel bad for them. Their ownership will get in the way of them ever being good.

Point 3: League Imbalance

The Brewers just had the best record in MLB last season. They then traded Freddy Peralta. Why? I dunno. There are multiple other examples. Washington had a bright future with McKenzie Gore as their ace, one of the pieces from the Soto trade, but they then dealt him to Texas. Tigers are going to let Skubal walk. Skenes will be gone by the end of his contract. (though the Pirates are lwk balling in FA this winter). The truth is, small market teams cannot compete with big market teams such as the Mets, Yankees, and Dodgers.

The argument against a salary cap and floor:

Point 1: How do you even handle this?

A salary cap might be really hard to implement… for example Ohtani’s deferred contract. How would we determine what is part of the money that makes up a team’s salary cap? Is it what they are getting paid that year? Is it what they make on average? It’ll require a lot of discussion… and no matter what rules they’ll place, there will be an loophole that teams will exploit.

Point 2: The players will revolt, aka no baseball.

If you think the players will allow a salary cap, they will not. Salary cap = players get paid less, as teams want to stay below the cap. If you can’t tell by the last few months, baseball players love money. If a salary cap were to be suggested, the cap would be incredibly high to satisfy the players, as they will want to be paid as much as possible and a salary cap gets in the way of that. Because the players won’t allow it, there won’t be a new deal, aka we get a lockout. Maybe start watching NPB?

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Overall, I think there should be a salary cap and floor. Not just to hurt the Dodgers, but to also force these small market teams to spend so they’re not constantly shit, making the MLB a better league in general. But what do you guys think? Comment below, and I’ll be glad to answer any questions or arguments you guys have.