NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Days before the start of what could be Major League Baseball\u2019s last postseason for a while, Carlos Rod\u00f3n was prepared for a long lockout if owners keep their salary cap proposal on the bargaining table.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe won\u2019t play. I\u2019m going to be frank with you,\u201d the New York Yankees<\/a> pitcher said. \u201cI\u2019m not worried about it. They should be worried about it. There\u2019s a lot of money on us playing baseball. That\u2019s why they pay us a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n Baseball\u2019s five-year labor contract expires Dec. 1 and management is expected to impose a lockout that would stop trades and free-agent signings, then potentially threaten the start of spring training workouts on Feb. 9 and opening day on March 24. <\/p>\n When management last proposed a cap, it sparked a 7 1\/2-month strike in 1994 and \u201995 that led to the first cancellation of the World Series in 90 years. MLB says a cap is needed to alleviate economic disparity, highlighting that no low-revenue team has won the title since the 2015 Kansas City Royals<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cThe salary cap and floor proposal levels the playing field, allowing us greater flexibility to address longstanding player priorities while sharing baseball revenue with the players 50\/50,\u201d MLB spokesman Glen Caplin said.<\/p>\n Owners would also gain more financial certainty with a cap, which likely would spark an increase in franchise values.<\/p>\n Players point out teams with low payrolls, Milwaukee and Tampa Bay, had the best regular-season records in their leagues this season. <\/p>\n \u201cDespite MLB claiming they need a salary cap because small-market teams supposedly have no hope, we see Milwaukee with the best record in baseball for the second straight year and Tampa with the best record in the AL,\u201d union head Bruce Meyer said. \u201cMilwaukee, of course, is 30th out of 30 in our market-size rankings.\u201d<\/p>\n While this would be MLB\u2019s 10th work stoppage, the sport hasn\u2019t lost any regular-season games since the 1994-95 strike. Baseball players say they will never accept a cap similar to those that have been in the NFL since 1994, the NBA since 1984-85 and the NHL since 2005-06. Nine of the 10 biggest sports contracts by total value in North America belong to MLB players.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me the biggest thing is doing right for the generations forward because the generations before me, for the decades before, they\u2019ve fought for our rights today,\u201d Baltimore first baseman Pete Alonso<\/a> said. \u201cThat\u2019s a sacrifice that not just myself but other men around the league are willing to fight for and put up with.\u201d<\/p>\n Salary cap would cut highest salaries <\/p>\n MLB\u2019s proposal would cap team spending next year at $245.3 million, using figures for luxury tax payrolls that include $20.1 million for benefits and the pre-arbitration bonus pool. It also would establish a payroll floor of $171.2 million for 2027 but teams could drop as low as $154.1 million and make up the difference over the following two years. The New York Mets<\/a>\u2019 opening day payroll in 2026 was over $352 million.<\/p>\n Contracts would be limited by service time: $500 million and 12 years for those yet to make major league debuts down to $265 million and six years for free-agent-eligible players. It would outlaw megadeals like outfielder Juan Soto<\/a>\u2019s record $765 million, 15-year contract with the Mets.<\/p>\n While MLB proposed to split revenues 50-50, the union says that would lead to a massive decrease in money to players because of the way revenues and expenses are defined and the player portion is calculated. In addition, an escrow provision to set salaries aside in case the players\u2019 defined revenue share is above 50% means money in guaranteed contracts could be forfeited.<\/p>\n MLB as part of a cap system would agree to drop service time for free agent eligibility for some players from six years of service to five and to eliminate qualifying offers, but the union maintains that would shift money among players under a cap rather than increase spending.<\/p>\n Cost of lost regular-season games would be enormous<\/p>\n Alonso would lose $165,775 next year for each regular-season day missed and Rod\u00f3n would forfeit $144,385.<\/p>\n Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> star Shohei Ohtani<\/a> would give up $374,331 daily and Soto $227,273.<\/p>\n At the other end of the salary scale, players making MLB\u2019s proposed $900,000 minimum would lose $4,813 daily.<\/p>\n Some players are protected financially because of signing bonuses that will continue to be paid during a work stoppage: Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.<\/a> is due $14 million on June 30 as part of his $325 million contract, though he would give up $74,866 daily in salary.<\/p>\n Union leadership changed in February<\/p>\n Tony Clark, the former All-Star first baseman who headed the union since 2013, was forced out in February and replaced by Meyer, his deputy and chief negotiator in 2021-22.<\/p>\n