The difference in approach between some MLB teams is astonishing.
On one hand, you have the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and the like, willing to spend whatever it takes to get in a position to consistently compete for the title.
On the other hand, you have the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cincinnati Reds, the Washington Nationals, the Oakland Athletics and others trying to get rid of any potentially expensive players, like they were trying not to compete.
This kind of imbalance is the root of 100-win teams and 100-loss teams.
According to Michael Ginnitti, founder of salary information site Spotrac, the league should have implemented a salary floor in recent collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations.
“As the #Mets, #Phillies& presumably #Yankees continue to push past the CBT threshold, the conversation shouldn’t be about their spending – but about how MLB once again chose not to address teams that continue to refuse to. Changing the top without adding a floor was senseless,” he tweeted.
As the #Mets, #Phillies& presumably #Yankees continue to push past the CBT threshold, the conversation shouldn’t be about their spending – but about how MLB once again chose not to address teams that continue to refuse to.
Changing the top without adding a floor was senseless.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) December 9, 2022
True Competitive Balance Depends On Owners: Good Luck With That
The current Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) the element that functions as a salary “cap”, is set at $233 million for 2023.
It was at $210 million in 2022.
Before the season, there were discussions about a salary floor, but owners countered with the ideal of decreasing the CBT threshold.
They offered to establish a minimum of $100 million, but with a maximum of $180 million.
The idea, obviously, didn’t gain too much traction and popularity among players.
It’s not so much that the league ignored the issue: it’s that owners don’t want anything to do with the idea of a salary floor.
Until that changes, there won’t be true competitive balance in the league.