"I would agree with you on most of this but I strongly disagree with you and almost everyone else on the salary cap and floor. Exhibit one: Luis Severino.
While the A’s might have seen this as a good move speculation also points to the fact that per the CBA and previous MLBPA grievances this signing was used as a play to avoid any problems with their move and simply keep the MLBPA off the back of the athletics and MLB. Anybody can read the CBA and the grievances but in a nutshell the Athletics were forced to buy a player past his prime for more money than he really should have got to simply show they are spending money and “playing ball”. Now times that by 30 teams. That will force teams to spend money on aging FA’s who don’t necessarily “deserve” these pay days simply to show “hey, we’re spending money.” Meanwhile they’ll have a league wide inflation where the floor and ceiling move by certain percentage points every year. Older aging players will get their payday. Owners picket more money. We all know there are angles to all of this and the strongest angles are gonna be played by owners and established players. It’s gonna be about what’s best for the business and not what’s best for baseball as a game. People need to go read this stuff. There’s a reason some of the most lucrative franchises are all in the NFL. It’s not because of what you think. There’s a reason why MLB players are the highest paid in sports. It’s because they get a bigger piece of the pie. Now do you want the money in owners hands or players hands. That’s the question."
I have a different vision of a MLB Salary Cap. I would guarantee the players 55% of ALL revenue. That is more than they are currently receiving. This is the main carrot.
I would impose a hard cap and a hard floor for every team modelled after the NFL CBA.
I would impose true, full revenue sharing.
I would increase MiLB salaries 100% across the board. Their treatment is ridiculous.
I would limit the length of all contracts to 5 years max. That allows players to sign deals and second deals while still in their prime.
I would make players FA after 4 years of MLB service time, reduced to 3 years for player who meet performance goals similar to the time-served calculation.
I would raise MLB minimum salaries to $2M per player.
I would forbid future or deferred compensation deals beyond 5 years.
I would require financial transparency from all owners for all revenue streams.
My goals are:
1) Get more $ in the hands of younger players, including minor leaguers;
2) Create competitive equality in the league like the NFL enjoys;
3) Raise the value of smaller market franchises;
4) Let players achieve FA earlier in their careers.
Who would say "Yes". The players, except the very few elite players. The vast majority of players benefit hugely under this proposal. Small market teams, but they have to share the wealth with the players.
Who says "No". Big market team owners and the few fat-cat elite players and their agents.
If this is presented properly, this should be accepted by the MLPA and the owners by majority vote.
This is a skeleton of a deal that would benefit MLB and MiLB immensely. It will never happen. Manfred is weak and the elite players and their agents control the MLBPA.