In a new interview, Athletics All-Star Brent Rucker fueled rumors that a salary cap for players will be a non-starter in the new collective bargaining agreement.
Right now, MLB players are preparing for the 2026 MLB season in either Florida or Arizona. While goals and aspirations for the new season are at the forefront of their minds, there is something dark looming in the distance. Negotiations over the next CBA between the league and the MLB Players Association.
Due to the out-of-control spending by the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and other big-market teams over the past few years, the buzz around the sport is that many owners are willing to finally bring a hard salary cap to MLB. It's similar to some other major leagues like the NFL, NHL and NBA or something similar.
However, it still has to make its way to MLB as the MLBPA has proven time and again that they are the strongest players union in the game. Whenever the owners push for a major change, the players push back even harder, and they have yet to break even.
Brent Rucker on hard cap: We will not tolerate it being implemented
And when it comes to the hard cap, the Athletics' two-time All-Star Brent Rucker is the latest MLB star to make it clear that the idea is a complete non-starter for players.
"The salary cap is designed to suppress wages so owners can make more money. That's enough. That's the goal behind them. They're not trying to accomplish anything else. It's not good for the players, it's not good for the league, it's not good for competitive balance or equity."
"We will not tolerate it being implemented into our game," Rucker said when asked about the hard cap during an event on Wednesday. foul zone podcast.
It certainly seems like both sides are ready to take a deeper look at the hard cap issue. If they're both adamant, it looks like there'll be another work stoppage like 1994 - coming early next year.
