Here are the 7 MLB teams impacted the most under proposed salary cap

With the fear of a lockout looming across Major League Baseball, the MLBPA and Owners need to agree on a new CBA. 

The most hotly contested part of this new CBA centers around a salary cap. Players worry that this would cause salary cuts, while owners argue that it would create a more even-playing field between large and small-market teams. 

Another part of this debate is a salary floor, which is being proposed in an effort to force small-market teams to pay more to their players.

Here are the teams that would be most impacted by a salary floor and ceiling.

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MLB salary cap proposal

The MLB has set a number for its proposed salary cap at $245.3 million, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers. The players have been notably averse to this salary cap for a long time, with Bryce Harper telling Manfred to "get the f— out of our clubhouse" if he hoped to talk about a salary cap in 2025.

This is not likely to be the end of a conversation, as teams will continue to negotiate a new CBA throughout the season or even the offseason. 

In response to this proposal from MLB, the MLBPA released a statement, saying "the last time the owners made such an explicit push for a cap — over 30 years ago — it led to the longest work stoppage in MLB history." 

The union’s response pic.twitter.com/qiC58nmfaJ

MORE: Owners respond to MLBPA's new CBA proposal

MLB salary cap ceiling 

MLB's initial proposal has set a salary cap at $245.3 million. There are currently eight teams who have spending above this level after incorporating the 2026 luxury tax, per Fangraphs. However, typically salary caps don't include this metric, meaning that six teams would have to cut down from their current payroll should this salary cap be introduced. 

MLB salary cap floor

The other factor in this deal is a salary floor, where teams would be required to spend at least $171.2 million. At that rate, 15 of the 30 MLB teams would need to increase their payroll from this season. 

Which MLB teams would be most impacted by salary cap?

The current baseball landscape has created an atmosphere where major market teams have spent exorbitant amounts of money on players. On one hand, these benefit the team's success, but they also drive ticket and jersey sales. Shohei Ohtani's on-field production may not be worth $700 million, but the Dodgers are not losing money on this thanks to the sales that come with it. 

The days of spending $700 million or more on a player may soon be a relic of the past, however, should a salary cap come into effect for the MLB. The two teams with $700 million or more contracts, the Mets and the Dodgers, are the most impacted by a salary cap, putting them in a financial bind to accommodate a cap. 

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have the highest payroll in baseball in 2026, with $399 million in projected payroll and an extra $10 million in luxury tax penalties. This also factors in the massive deferred payments implemented by the Dodgers, with Ohtani deferring over 95% of his total $700 million salary.

This does still impact Dodgers payroll, but it means that Ohtani's value counts for less money today to adjust to the time value on his deal.

Nevertheless, if a salary cap is introduced, the Dodgers will be the first team on people's minds, especially after winning back-to-back championships. As it stands, the Dodgers are over $150 million above the salary cap based on their projected payroll for 2026. 

New York Mets

The Mets fall shortly behind the Dodgers in terms of payroll and they hold the largest contract in baseball with Juan Soto, who signed a 15-year, $765 million deal. The Mets are also the only other team who are over $100 million above the proposed salary cap, as they sit at $123 million.

Mets owner Steve Cohen is the richest in Major League Baseball, with a net worth of over $20 billion. This makes it no surprise that he spends as much as anyone in terms of his player payroll. 

Cohen is not one to hold his money close to the chest if it means the Mets will have a better shot at a championship. He may need to learn to spend with restraint should the salary cap come into play. 

New York Yankees

Who else other than the Yankees to keep up a high payroll year after year? Baseball's most iconic and infamous franchise has several large contracts on its books, including MVPs Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton and Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole. 

Over the prior two free agency cycles, the Yankees have also committed serious money to Max Fried and Cody Bellinger, another MVP in his own right. Trent Grisham was also signed to a one-year deal worth $22 million.

As a result of this spending, the Yankees have $308 million on the books in 2026, which is $63 million more than the proposed cap.

Toronto Blue Jays

After a surprising World Series run a year ago, the struggling Blue Jays have money tied up in several big names. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the big name on this payroll, earning half a billion dollars over 14 years. The Jays also got Dylan Cease on a seven-year, $175 million in the offseason. 

The good news for the Jays, though, is that many of their aging players may be off the books as the salary cap approaches. George Springer and Kevin Gausman are both set to become free agents after this season, totaling up to over $47 million of spending cleared up. 

In 2026, the Jays are projected to spend $289 million on payroll. They would need to cut $44 million to fall within the salary requirements that MLB has proposed.

Tampa Bay Rays

For the Rays, it's not about the salary cap, but the salary floor. The Rays built up a reputation for themselves over the past 10 years as a team that uses every small bit of money to their advantage. In particular, the Rays had major success in trades to acquire players who were underpaid or on pre-arbitration contracts.

This saved the organization money, but those days may soon be gone. Tampa Bay is currently paying just $87 million in payroll in 2026, a far cry from the $171.2 million proposed floor. Currently, the largest Rays contract among active players is Steven Matz, who is being paid $15 million over two seasons. 

Cleveland Guardians

The Guardians have a Rays-adjacent reputation, with the distinction that they've been able to re-sign players on incredibly team-friendly contracts. Nevertheless, the Guardians would need to more than double their $85 million payroll to meet the salary floor.

Most notably, Jose Ramirez has spent his entire career with the Guardians, but is earning just 128 million dollars over seven years, despite being one of the league's best players. 

Miami Marlins

As it stands, the Marlins hold the lowest payroll in all of Major League Baseball. This number sits at $74 million, with the team's priciest contract being Sandy Alcantara's five-year, $56 million extension. This means that the Marlins would need to add $97 million in payroll should this floor end up in the next CBA.

As a team that once spent big on someone like Giancarlo Stanton, it's clear that the Marlins can spend real money if they need to. With the new CBA negotiations, this could be a mandatory spending spree for the Marlins.