The 2026 MLB offseason is one that fans have been dreading because the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the MLB Players Association and the owners ends on December 1.
Recent reports suggested that discussions about the CBA renewal would start soon, and on Wednesday, the MLBPA submitted its first CBA proposal. The owners are expected to submit their first proposal on Thursday.
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The MLBPA proposal largely focused on salary increases and ways to raise league-wide payroll.
Here are some of the highlights of the MLBPA’s first proposal:
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Significant increases to 40-man minimums, including a Major League minimum salary of $1.5 million beginning in 2027
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A new “Competitive Integrity Tax” applying to Clubs that fail to meet minimum payroll benchmarks
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Expansion of salary arbitration eligibility
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Enhanced compensation and contract guarantees for players in salary arbitration
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Increased benefits for lower revenue Clubs who lose players to free agency
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Qualified free agency for players with five or more years of service who have reached age 30
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“Luxury Tax” threshold increases and removal of non-monetary policies
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Expanded draft lottery to further deincentivize tanking
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Increased revenue sharing that initially guarantees every small market Club a minimum of $240 million in revenue every season
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Penalties for Clubs that neglect to spend revenue sharing payments on team payroll
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Draft picks and other benefits for low revenue Clubs active in free agency and other signings
The MLBPA is asking for a salary increase for minimum salaries. Currently, the minimum salary is $750,000, so the proposal is to double it.
One of the more interesting aspects of the proposal is the new “Competitive Integrity Tax,” which would tax franchises that fail to meet minimum payroll benchmarks.
Essentially, the MLBPA wants to ensure that teams are spending money, and it also offered a reward proposal to encourage low-revenue teams to be active in free agency.
With the MLBPA submitting its proposal first, all eyes now turn to the owners’ proposal expected on Thursday. They have long wanted to push for a salary cap, per Jeff Passan, and the exact details of the proposed cap could provide a look into how big a battle the two sides are in.