Major League Baseball. A league of drama, superstars, and corruption. The MLB is the oldest one of the five major North American sports (NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS) and was founded in 1908. However, being the oldest, it is the only league that does not have any form of salary cap. 

First off What is a salary cap? 

A salary cap is a minimum and maximum range for how much money a team can spend on players in their league. There are two types of salary caps; A hard cap which has a maximum and minimum for how much you can spend on a roster. And a soft cap which means there is only a league minimum for spending. Both types of caps make leagues playing fields more competitive. More competitive games bring in more views and revenue for the league as a whole. 

If these salary caps help boost competitiveness why does the MLB not have a salary cap? 

According to Sports Illustrated the MLBPA (Players Association)  has fought off the salary cap issues since the association was formed. MLB has the second highest average salary per player for the five major sports leagues in North America. These salaries will only keep going up with two recent players Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani being signed for 765 Million dollars over the next 15 years and 700 million dollars over the next 15 years with 680 million being deferred until after 2034.

According to  foxsports.com, nine of the top ten athletes are baseball players. These players are making record amounts of money. With 39 year old Max Scherzer making over 43 million dollars. That is over $1.30 per second for all of 2024. For comparison  three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes had a base salary below ten million dollars.

Wahawks Thoughts?

West High Junior and Baseball Enthusiast Dean Hempel

Hempel states “I think the league not having a salary cap ruins the game… it makes it so only big market teams like the dodger can win… it ends up with superteams and leaves smaller market teams like nationals and athletics in the dust.”

West High Junior and Baseball Expert Jackson Chidester

Chidester shares “I think the salary cap should be implemented into MLB to make it fair for all teams. This would make the league more competitive and create a better viewing experience for baseball fans all over the country.”

These Wahawks are just a couple students at West that feel as if the MLB should have some sort of salary rules. It may come soon, it may never come, but all we can do is hope.