MLB proposes first salary cap since 1994 negotiations
MLB proposes first salary cap since 1994 in ongoing labor negotiations.
Event / Sports
MLB Player Development System Restructuring
MLB proposes comprehensive reforms to player development system including restrictions on high school signings, raised minimum draft eligibility ages, creation of international draft, and equal spending requirements across teams, negotiated during collective bargaining sessions.
1 reported locations
Daily activity
0 articles0 articles
2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 19 Jun, 01:34 UTC
Follow the documented timeline or explore the related reporting.
What happened
MLB proposes banning high school players from signing with major league teams
Major League Baseball proposed banning high school players from signing directly with major league teams during collective bargaining agreement negotiations. Starting in 2028, prospects would need to be at least 20 years old by September 1 of their signing year and two years removed from high school graduation.
MLB proposes first salary cap since 1994 in current collective bargaining negotiations
Major League Baseball proposed a salary cap for the first time since 1994 during current collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the players' association. The last salary cap proposal in 1994 resulted in a 7.5-month strike and the cancellation of the World Series.
MLB proposes eliminating competitive balance picks and reducing draft lottery
Major League Baseball proposed eliminating competitive balance round picks that began in 2023 and cutting the draft lottery from the top six picks to four.
MLB proposes $200 million signing pools with hard caps for each draft beginning in 2027
Major League Baseball proposed setting $200 million in signing pools for each draft beginning in 2027, with hard caps for each draft. The proposal would establish equal spending amounts for all teams, replacing the current system that gives higher pools to teams with poorer records.
MLB proposes raising minimum signing age for international amateurs to 18
Major League Baseball proposed raising the minimum signing age for international amateur prospects from 17 to 18 years old as of September 1 of their signing year.
MLB commits to maintaining 120 minor league teams through 2030
Major League Baseball stated it will not seek to reduce the 120 minor league teams in the top four levels when negotiating new professional development licenses in 2030 to replace expiring 10-year deals.
MLB proposes reducing amateur draft from 20 rounds to 12 rounds beginning in 2027
Major League Baseball proposed cutting the domestic amateur draft for players in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico from 20 rounds to 12 rounds starting in 2027. An identical 12-round international draft would also be created.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives