craviduce wrote: ↑18 Aug 2025 18:55 pm
in 94 the lockout happened over the same thing.... Owners wanted a Cap and Hard Floor.
I don't think the Owners flinch this time around.
A CAP is coming...and Floor is coming.
Maybe but it will be $300-$350m and with a floor of 80%. Otherwise it won’t work. Big markets have already spent and they will not penalize them.
80% of 300million for a floor? There's no way. That will Force Contract at least 8 teams....probably like 12-14 after all is said and done? They don't want to shrink the league.
The lowest professional floor is 82% NHL NBA NFL MLS and all sports included. That’s the standard to get the cap.
start the Cap...much lower than 300
if you don't the owners will be forced to pay "Veteran Contracts" around 40million per year to B and C grade talent...over the hill talent. That's what irks me about the NBA structure....ludicrous contracts for aged veterans.
Can’t impose a cap retroactively to punish big markets. They run the leauge and both the players because they benefit in $ and owners because it directly translates to winning will laugh at a lower cap. Any cap will require a floor aand any floor will require full revenue sharing. Good luck to the owners because a current poll showed 95% of players will not accept a cap
I understand that...it's real sticking point...Something has to change, and punishing a majority of the league to get inline with the Big Markets isn't feasible.
We're looking at a 16-20 team league if they can't get the Cap lowered and the floor around 150
craviduce wrote: ↑18 Aug 2025 18:55 pm
in 94 the lockout happened over the same thing.... Owners wanted a Cap and Hard Floor.
I don't think the Owners flinch this time around.
A CAP is coming...and Floor is coming.
I am not so sure the owners will be in unison. The big boys are never in the mood to help out the smaller market teams.
Maybe they will prove me wrong . I am from Missouri
They have to show me !
Just a FYI Dewitt has always sided with th big market owners because as baseball revenue increases so did the value of his team. He is a walking contradiction. Act poor even tho your an eliteist
craviduce wrote: ↑18 Aug 2025 18:55 pm
in 94 the lockout happened over the same thing.... Owners wanted a Cap and Hard Floor.
I don't think the Owners flinch this time around.
A CAP is coming...and Floor is coming.
Agree with this. As much as the players and owners are at odds over the idea, you have to be blind to see how the game is evolving now and the need for this change.
Every professional sports league has some form of this. The need for a hard cap, a reasonable floor and some form of revenue sharing is a must for all teams in MLB to thrive. This can’t become the giant 10 and it’s 20 minions. There’s several reasons that baseball is struggling and one of those reasons is the lack of competition between the haves and have nots.
craviduce wrote: ↑18 Aug 2025 18:55 pm
in 94 the lockout happened over the same thing.... Owners wanted a Cap and Hard Floor.
I don't think the Owners flinch this time around.
A CAP is coming...and Floor is coming.
Agree. The players will fight that fiercely, but I think it gets done in some form.
What can the owners offer? That’s the problem. That is a “pipe dream” as and to get it owners have to give equal value. 100% revenue sharing and a super high floor may not even be enough. The players have the owners bent over a barrel this time
Youboughtit wrote: ↑18 Aug 2025 18:47 pm
Currently 12 teams are over $200m and 10 are in playoff contention and 4 are winning their divisions. Looking for everyone predictions on what year the Cardinals will join that club and secondly will the bar be over $300m when it does happen. My guess is 10 years. Likely with new owner.
We will easily be over 200 mil way before 10 years. We announced we were cutting payroll just fir 2 seasons. We were at near 180 mil in 2024 and i expect us to rebound close to that in 2027 then push to 200 mil not long after
craviduce wrote: ↑18 Aug 2025 18:55 pm
in 94 the lockout happened over the same thing.... Owners wanted a Cap and Hard Floor.
I don't think the Owners flinch this time around.
A CAP is coming...and Floor is coming.
Agree. The players will fight that fiercely, but I think it gets done in some form.
What can the owners offer? That’s the problem. That is a “pipe dream” as and to get it owners have to give equal value. 100% revenue sharing and a super high floor may not even be enough. The players have the owners bent over a barrel this time
Owners could offer a reduced schedule. Players have wanted that for a while.
craviduce wrote: ↑18 Aug 2025 18:55 pm
in 94 the lockout happened over the same thing.... Owners wanted a Cap and Hard Floor.
I don't think the Owners flinch this time around.
A CAP is coming...and Floor is coming.
Floor I could see duce, CAP no chance.
Players now have sooooooo much more money in the bank than they did in 94' they can stay out as long as it takes (even the rookies who make $760,000).
Owners, meanwhile, can't afford to p i z z off the NETWORKS/STREAMING SERVICES for too long and they'll get massive pressure from them to cave in if it last too long.
craviduce wrote: ↑18 Aug 2025 18:55 pm
in 94 the lockout happened over the same thing.... Owners wanted a Cap and Hard Floor.
I don't think the Owners flinch this time around.
A CAP is coming...and Floor is coming.
Agree. The players will fight that fiercely, but I think it gets done in some form.
What can the owners offer? That’s the problem. That is a “pipe dream” as and to get it owners have to give equal value. 100% revenue sharing and a super high floor may not even be enough. The players have the owners bent over a barrel this time
Owners could knock a year or two of service time off the six needed to reach FA. Maybe an NBA model with a 50/50 revenue target split with players. Most owners have other businesses and/or inherited money so financially they can weather a stoppage better than most players. The players didn't get many concessions in the last CBA and I think they will dig their heels in this time. Enjoy the '26 season!
craviduce wrote: ↑18 Aug 2025 18:55 pm
in 94 the lockout happened over the same thing.... Owners wanted a Cap and Hard Floor.
I don't think the Owners flinch this time around.
A CAP is coming...and Floor is coming.
Agree. The players will fight that fiercely, but I think it gets done in some form.
What can the owners offer? That’s the problem. That is a “pipe dream” as and to get it owners have to give equal value. 100% revenue sharing and a super high floor may not even be enough. The players have the owners bent over a barrel this time
Owners could knock a year or two of service time off the six needed to reach FA. Maybe an NBA model with a 50/50 revenue target split with players. Most owners have other businesses and/or inherited money so financially they can weather a stoppage better than most players. The players didn't get many concessions in the last CBA and I think they will dig their heels in this time. Enjoy the '26 season!
Not true. The TV broadcast pressure is real. Baseball fanbase is dwindling. A stoppage will cost more viewers. Owners know even a short stoppage will hurt the sport. 50% of players are now millionaires. Not like last time when it was 5%. I expect the players to be big winners in this deal
cardstatman wrote: ↑19 Aug 2025 18:49 pm
I think the Cards are very budget driven.
They plan for a certain amount of operating profit so they don't have to pay their interest expenses and taxes out of pocket.
I don't think they will raise payroll much until they can raise revenue to cover it.
Cutting other expenses to cover it is what got them into trouble.
Past operating profits according to Forbes.
2016 $59.8
2017 $41
2018 $40
2019 $65
2020 $72
2021 -$79 (Operating Loss)
2022 -$34 (Operating Loss)
2023 $43
2024 $57
2025 $6.7
But revenue will not go up until they spend in deficit for several years. Cost of doing Business. Superstars = fans. A WC contender with low payroll will not do anything for this fanbase. They want to buy jerseys of future HOF caliber players in their prime. Why not use that surplus you collected because the value of franchise is the real value. To raise that value they need a sustained fanbase.Notice the 2023-2024 seasons when they had a payroll of $176mnplus and still made $100m. The more the owner spends the more return he will see on investment. 2025. Cut payroll = less income
The current system is hurting players that are free agent eligible but not necessarily all-star caliber players. Many of them have to accept minor league deals just to hang on. These players out number those who are earning these mega deals. They would be stupid not to want some changes where they might get paid better, and/or be able to stay with their original team. Teams are rushing young players up from the minors to replace these more veteran players, simply because they are cheaper.
Let them cancel the 2027 season. And 2028. While those greedy bastards squabble over their millions, the fans will move on to other interests. MLB can come back to empty stadiums and low TV viewership. Maybe then they will realize the fans matter.
