Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner may
support a salary cap proposal tied to payroll minimum
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 [February 22, 2025]
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner
may support a salary cap proposal as long as it contains a provision
mandating minimum payrolls.
“I have been on the record already saying that I would consider
supporting a cap depending on what the cap is and contingent on the
fact that there’s also a floor so the clubs that I feel aren’t
spending enough money on payroll to improve their team would have to
spend more," Steinbrenner said.
The Yankees had Major League Baseball's highest payroll for 15
straight years through 2013 but have not been the biggest spender
since then.
MLB is the only one of the four major U.S. professional leagues
without a salary cap but has had a luxury tax in place since 2003.
New Baltimore Orioles owner David Rubenstein said in January he
would support a cap. Bargaining will begin in about a year for an
agreement to replace the five-year collective bargaining agreement
with the Major League Baseball Players Association that expires in
December 2026.
“In the last round of bargaining, we presented ways to address the
concern being represented now and we were stonewalled at each turn —
and all without further restrictions on the system,” players’
association head Tony Clark said in a statement.
A cap proposal led to a 7 1/2-month strike that caused cancellation
of the 1994 World Series and lost games in two seasons.
“I have owners who have really strongly held views that I need to
coalesce into a position that we ultimately will take to the MLBPA,”
Commissioner Rob Manfred said this week. "I don’t think starting
that debate publicly is a good start. Whatever we settle on, we’re
going to present at the collective bargaining process and try to
handle it privately with the MLBPA.”
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New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner looks on before a baseball
game between the Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 21, 2022,
in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin, File)
The Yankees have paid luxury tax in 20 of 22
seasons since the current tax was put in place, a total of $452
million. The Dodgers are second at $350 million, including $200
million in the last four years.
The Mets have paid $229 million in the last three years under Steve
Cohen after never reaching the threshold under the Wilpon and Katz
families.
Steinbrenner defended the Yankees' spending, saying the team
projects its payroll at about $307 million, about the same as at
this point last year.
Spending by the Dodgers and Mets in recent years had led to renewed
discussion of payroll disparity and a possible cap proposal.
“The dollars are obviously bigger,” Manfred said. “The Dodgers
whatever they spend are probably more profitable on a percentage
basis than the old Yankees were, meaning it could be more
sustainable, so it is more of a problem. But look, it is the core of
the issues in our economic system is that disparity-driven
difference in terms of the ability to compete.”
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