Major League Baseball might be headed towards a lengthy lockout this upcoming winter, as the MLB Players Union doesn't want to have a salary cap implemented, while the owners are pushing hard for it to come to MLB.

Their initial proposal featured a salary cap floor of $171.2 million and a ceiling of $245.3 million, but ESPN's Jeff Passan shared the changed proposal made by MLB, which includes a raise in the salary cap and floor, and pushing it back to 2028, not 2027.

However, the MLB owners still had a cap in their latest CBA proposal, and USA Today's Bob Nightengale shared the MLBPA's response to this new proposal. Unsurprisingly, the MLBPA rejected it and clapped back at the owners, even bashing the transition year that might garner support from fans.

MLBPA claps back at MLB's latest salary cap proposal

"Coming off another incredible season of baseball, MLB owners continue to propose blowing up the current system and replacing it with one designed to line their pockets and increase their franchise values," the MLBPA shared in their latest statement.

Despite the MLB owners' latest proposal increasing to a $180.2 million floor and a $258.2 million ceiling, while also putting off the implementation of a salary cap until 2028, the MLBPA wants no part of this proposal.

The reason why is simple: any sort of salary cap is a non-starter for the MLBPA. They have multiple reasons why the players have no interest in a salary cap at all. The following are some of the reasons why the MLBPA believes a cap is a bad idea:

"Massive reduction in player compensation; Elimination of fundamental player rights, including guaranteed contracts; Gutting of domestic and international amateur entry systems; Replacement of market-based fundamentals with a zero-sum system that harms the middle class and pits player against player..."

The delayed implementation of a salary cap might sound appealing on paper, but the MLBPA bashed that too, highlighting the negative impacts on the luxury tax, contract restrictions, a "$400 million reduction in amateur signing bonuses," while also "stripping" competitive advantages for small-market teams, among plenty of other reasons.

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One thing should be clear to fans as of now: the MLBPA is not going to accept any new CBA deal that involves a salary cap. As much as the owners want to make it happen, the MLBPA has no intention of acquiescing here.

The MLBPA closed its statement on this latest proposal with the following message that will likely continue to ring true as this back-and-forth over the new CBA continues:

"Players stand ready to negotiate in good faith toward a new CBA that will capitalize on our sport's unprecedented momentum and benefit players, clubs, and fans alike," the MLBPA stated.

This is looking like it's going to last for a while, as the players' union isn't going to budge on this salary cap issue, and the owners are pushing very hard to add a salary cap on the other side of this debate.

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