How likely is a lockout? Well, the latest word is that MLB owners just might be unanimous in support of a payroll cap, which is vehemently opposed by the players union.
The biggest-spending Dodgers and Mets are believed likely willing to go along with the call for a cap, and one source suggested the lowest-spending teams are actually enthusiastic in their support even though they’d have to raise their player payroll significantly to get above any proposed floor.
While it’s too early to know what ceiling and floor MLB will favor, some early estimates suggest the proposed ceiling might be around $280 million (negotiable, of course), meaning the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees and others would have to work hard to get under a cap, though they’d be given years to do so. (The Yankees support the cap.)
Mets owner Steve Cohen’s spending habits and willingness to lose money (an estimated $200M plus annually) in pursuit of a ring suggest he wouldn’t ordinarily prefer the cap route. But other owners believe he’ll be a team player and ultimately be supportive of league plans.
