Rob Manfred claims salary cap could save MLB. Players call it 'subsidized mediocrity'

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Rob Manfred claims salary cap could save MLB. Players call it 'subsidized mediocrity'

Rob Manfred claims salary cap could save MLB. Players call it 'subsidized mediocrity'

Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Tue, Jul 14, 2026 ·

7 min read

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PHILADELPHIA — Commissioner Rob Manfred and MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer each heartily agreed Tuesday before the All-Star Game that the game of baseball is thriving, and perhaps, as good of shape as it's been in the sport's history.

They cited the sports' popularity in attendance, TV viewership, franchise values, and the younger demographics.

The game, in the words of both leaders, is absolutely booming.

Now, where the game goes from here, well, you got the complete polar opposite viewpoints.

Meyer and the players union believe that with the game prospering, there's no reason at all to overhaul the system with a salary cap.

Manfred and the owners believe that if there's no salary cap, the game's popularity will wane lower than a 60-year-old neighborhood pickleball competition.

Manfred reminded the Baseball Writers' Association of America that the union wanted no part of a pitch clock, either, and it has resulted in resounding success, and that it pushed back on the ABS challenge system, too.

"We got that momentum by listening to our fans and making changes that you know candidly, the MLBPA was not interested in,'' Manfred said. "Those changes have paid off in terms of creating that momentum, and the best way to lose momentum is to stand still. We're doing exactly the same thing that we did with the rule changes, we're listening to our fans."

Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals competes in the finals of the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia.

(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after competing in the finals.

(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts as teammate Kyle Schwarber (not pictured) competes in the finals of the 2026 Home Run Derby.

(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies competes in the finals.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies and Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals are introduced before the finals of the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia.
(Chris Graythen, Getty Images)

Former Philadelphia Phillies players Ryan Howard and Bobby Abreu are introduced before the finals.
(Chris Graythen, Getty Images)

Fans reach for a home run ball during the home run derby.
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox reacts before competing during the semifinals of the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park.

(Chris Graythen, Getty Images)

Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies competes during the semifinals of the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia.

(Chris Graythen, Getty Images)

Fans cheer on Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) during the home run derby at Citizens Bank Park.
(Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)

Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies competes during the semifinals of the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia.

(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

New York Yankees first baseman Benjamin Rice (22) makes a play at bat during the home run derby.
(Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)

Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays competes during the semifinals of the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals reacts after competing during the semifinals.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

A crew member holds up a sign for safety during the home run derby.
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies and third base coach Dino Ebel #91 of the Los Angeles Dodgers embrace during the 2026 Home Run Derby.

(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies competes.

(Chris Graythen, Getty Images)

Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after competing in the 2026 Home Run Derby.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber bats during the All Star-Home Run Derby.
(Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)

Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays competes during the 2026 Home Run Derby.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Raisel Iglesias #26 of the Atlanta Braves and his son Oliver speak to former major league baseball player Albert Pujols during the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

A fan attempts to catch a ball hit during the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)

Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees competes during the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia.
(Chris Graythen, Getty Images)

New York Yankees infielder Ben Rice (22) bats during the All Star-Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park.
(Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)

The Phillie Phanatic reacts with fans before the home run derby at Citizens Bank Park.
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox competes during the 2026 Home Run Derby.

(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates and American sports analyst Pat McAfee react during the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

A fan reacts after retrieving a ball hit during the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)

Fans look on as the players are announced before the home run derby at Citizens Bank Park.
(Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)

Jac Caglianone of the Kansas City Royals competes during the 2026 Home Run Derby.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Brandon Marsh of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts during the 2026 Home Run Derby.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox competes during the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets looks on during the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox competes during the 2026 Home Run Derby.
(Chris Graythen, Getty Images)

Fans reach for a home run ball hit by Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)

Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals competes during the 2026 Home Run Derby.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals competes.
(Chris Graythen, Getty Images)

Fans react during the fly-over during the All Star-Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park.
(Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)

Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox, Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox, Jac Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals, and Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies look on after being introduced before the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia.

(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

American actor and comedian Will Ferrell looks on before the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies is introduced before the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees is introduced before the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

A general view of the stadium and field as fans look on before the home run derby at Citizens Bank Park.

(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

Fans look on before the start of the home run derby at Citizens Bank Park.

(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

Chicago White Sox third baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) warms up before the home run derby at Citizens Bank Park.
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) signs autographs before the home run derby at Citizens Bank Park.
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

Chicago White Sox third baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) warms up before the home run derby at Citizens Bank Park.
(Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)

Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas (20) warms up before the home run derby at Citizens Bank Park.
(Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)

Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) warms up before the home run derby at Citizens Bank Park.
(Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)

Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler, left, and Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle warm up before the home run derby at Citizens Bank Park.
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

Chicago White Sox third baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) prepares for warm ups before the home run derby at Citizens Bank Park.
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

Yes, that's the reason Manfred that it's imperative for the game to have a salary cap to assure that every team has a legitimate chance to win the World Series after watching the Los Angeles Dodgers , who have the game's highest payroll, win the last two World Series and win the NL West in 12 of the past 13 seasons.

"The gap is $441 million," Manfred said. "It defies human experience to ask a fran to think that the bottom end of that gap has the same opportunity to win the top end."

And he insists that every owner agrees with him, with every team willing to share their local TV rights if there is a cap, meaning the Dodgers and their average $330 million local TV annual revenue stream would be shared with the Milwaukee Brewers and their approximate $20 million local TV share.

"I have an ownership group that is more united,'' Manfred says, "than any group in my entire time in baseball.''

Meyer says the same about his union membership, and insists that a salary cap is designed solely to help owners make more money, will reduce the amount of player compensation, and has absolutely nothing to do with competitive balance.

"The owners, many of them, want a system that not only guarantees their profits, not only increases their franchise values,'' Meyer said, "but essentially is a form of subsidized mediocrity, owner protection, protection from competition.

"Salary cap is the ultimate excuse not to compete. It's the ultimate excuse for an owner to say, "Gee, I would like to make the team better, but you know I can't.'

"Salary caps are bad for fans. Salary caps prevent teams from doing the things that they believe are in their interest to make the team better."

While the union gladly points out that the Milwaukee Brewers , who reside in the smallest market in MLB, won the most games last season and that a bottom-5 market, the Tampa Bays have the American League's best record, MLB will remind you that the Rays have never won a World Series and the Brewers' last title is in 1982.

What our fans in a number of our markets are telling us_better than half of them_is there's a lack of competitive balance in the game,'' Manfred said, "and everything we propose is directed at addressing that fan concern. …

"I believe that in order for this game to reach its full potential, we need to continue to address concerns that our fans have, particularly concerns that go to the core of what we're about-that is_competitive balance. We need to make sure that fans in markets at the beginning of the season have a realistic belief that their team has a chance to win.

"I think that we need a system where fans, particularly in smaller markets, can have some hope that the players that are signed and developed by their organizations can actually stay there through free agency. And honestly, I think we need a system where there is a more robust free agent market. So, if you don't want to go to New York or Los Angeles , you have a realistic opportunity to get a viable free agent contract.

"And I also think we have an obligation as players to try to get into a system where salving growth in baseball is not the slowest among the four-digit professionals.''

Meyer laughs and even mocks the premise that a salary cap would change anything but lineup owners' pockets, and argues that fans' biggest complaint is with their owners who won't spend the money to compete with the Dodgers and the big boys.

"If they were so concerned about fans,'' Meyer said, "they would listen to the fans all across baseball who are literally chanting, "Sell the team! They want the owners to sell the team because they feel they're not competing. They don't listen to that part.

"Every team in baseball can afford to compete, many are choosing not to. To me, that's the biggest problem right now."

Besides, Meyer said, if MLB was so convinced that the fans want a salary cap, then why is the MLB.TV running ads advocating for a salary cap?

"There's something wrong with that,'' Meyer said. "Look, we're in a bargain year. Both sides engage in media efforts. We do it. Sadly, we don't own our own TV network.

"But the fact that at a time when the game is in such a good place…why does it make any sense to basically have fans throughout the game watching ads about how well you really should be in favor of a salary cap? Which, by the way, I find ironic since as you know, the owners in the league have said, "Hey, we're just listening to fans, right?' Yet somehow, they feel it's necessary to spend millions of dollars running ads to persuade those fans that they really should be in favor of this thing.''

While Meyer still believes the owners plan to have a lockout with no deal before Dec. 1, there will be no repeat of 1994-95 by the players when they went on strike on Aug. 12, with the World Series ultimately cancelled. There will be no strike during the season, or before the World Series, when players no longer are paid.

"It's a violation of the CBA,' Meyer said. "We can't strike. They can't do a lockout while the agreement is in place.''

So, at least the fans know that the entirety of this season will take place, but as far as 2027, hey, we'll see.

"I'm an optimist with respect to collective bargaining,'' Manfred said. "I truly believe that if people engage in the process, that you find ways through things.''

Said Meyer: "The owners have been talking about a lockout for a while... You know, the commissioner quite a while ago predicted it and said it's a good thing, a good thing for baseball. It's not a good thing. Not a good thing for anybody.

"This is a choice that they've made. They've chosen to put on the bargaining table in the year 2026, something that they know our players and our union has fought against for decades. That's a choice. If they do a lockout, that'll be a choice. That'll be an owner choice.:

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rob Manfred claims salary cap could save MLB. Players call it 'subsidized mediocrity'

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