Major League Baseball has proposed reducing its regular season to 154 games from 162, beginning in 2029, in an effort to secure player approval for a league-wide salary cap. The MLBPA, however, has expressed concerns that a salary cap would diminish player rights and compensation.
This proposal is a key element in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement negotiations, as MLB aims to align with other major sports leagues by implementing a salary cap, a move that has been a point of contention in past negotiations.
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Major League Baseball (MLB) has put forth a bold proposal: a reduction of the regular season from 162 games to 154, contingent upon the players' union agreeing to a salary cap in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement (CBA). This potential shift, slated to begin in 2029, marks a significant move in the ongoing labor negotiations, which are critical as the current CBA expires on December 1st.
The introduction of a salary cap is a long-standing objective for MLB, which remains the only major North American sports league without one. This proposal aims to incentivize the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) by offering a shorter, potentially more player-friendly schedule in exchange for concessions on payroll limits. The MLBPA has indicated that players will carefully consider these proposals and will respond at the bargaining table.
A 154-game season is not unprecedented in MLB history, having been the standard from 1904 to 1960, with exceptions during World War I. For the past 66 years, 162 games have been the norm. MLB spokesman Glen Caplin suggested that a shorter season would benefit player health and create enhanced national broadcast opportunities. "A shorter regular season unlocks making October even better for our fans — with fewer weekday afternoon games, a longer Division Series, and more opportunities to see the game's best pitchers on the biggest stage," Caplin stated.
The proposal also includes creating an exclusive Monday broadcast window for one or two games, potentially generating significant revenue from streaming services and advertisers. Teams involved in these Monday games would have Thursdays off, while other teams would have a full day of rest. In addition to shortening the regular season, MLB seeks to expand the divisional round of the playoffs to a best-of-seven format from the current best-of-five. Furthermore, the league wants to grant higher-seeded teams in both the wild card and divisional rounds the ability to choose their opponents.
The MLBPA has voiced strong opposition to the proposed salary cap, characterizing it as a move that would "gut player rights and compensation." While MLB has confirmed that these proposed changes are conditional on accepting both a salary cap and a salary floor (mandating minimum team spending), the players' union remains firm in its stance, stating they will "weigh in on these proposals and we will respond at the bargaining table."
