Someone Explain Ceiling and Floor Concept

[sikeston bulldog2]

Good morning.

I’m kinda in bed with it. I think I gotta a handle. It’s gonna be a big deal soon, so we might as well understand the process.

My take-

Floor. Every olayer on the 26 man makes at least floor money. Nothing less.

Questions- is the floor a team event, a olayer event or are there two floors. When a player gets called up from farm. Does he get floor money.

Ceiling. Same idea. A player or team cannot go over a particular line. So many players could all make the same amount. No highest paid player anymore.

Question- how does trades affect ceilings. If you are at the ceiling team level then what:

Just a few. Thanks in advance.

[3-2 Fastball]

Looking at other leagues can provide a picture of how a potential MLB cap and floor would function.

NFL
Floor- Owners must spend average of at least 90% of the cap over a 4 year period. If they are below that, the league fines ownership the amount to take them ton90% and that $ is distributed to the players who were on the roster during the time the team was below the floor.

Cap- The NFL has a hard cap, meaning every team must be below the cap number at the start of the league year (March). The cap # fluctuates slightly each year based on league revenue.

Floor and cap are for total payroll. There are league minimums, veteran minimums for individual players, but the floor/ceiling Im describing above is for total team payroll.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Looking at other leagues can provide a picture of how a potential MLB cap and floor would function.

NFL
Floor- Owners must spend average of at least 90% of the cap over a 4 year period. If they are below that, the league fines ownership the amount to take them ton90% and that $ is distributed to the players who were on the roster during the time the team was below the floor.

Cap- The NFL has a hard cap, meaning every team must be below the cap number at the start of the league year (March). The cap # fluctuates slightly each year based on league revenue.

Floor and cap are for total payroll. There are league minimums, veteran minimums for individual players, but the floor/ceiling Im describing above is for total team payroll.

Thank you sir. Fine write.

[Mort Gage]

Good morning.

I’m kinda in bed with it. I think I gotta a handle. It’s gonna be a big deal soon, so we might as well understand the process.

My take-

Floor. Every olayer on the 26 man makes at least floor money. Nothing less.

Questions- is the floor a team event, a olayer event or are there two floors. When a player gets called up from farm. Does he get floor money.

Ceiling. Same idea. A player or team cannot go over a particular line. So many players could all make the same amount. No highest paid player anymore.

Question- how does trades affect ceilings. If you are at the ceiling team level then what:

Just a few. Thanks in advance.

MLB has a 2026 minimum player salary of $780,000. That's unrelated to the salary cap/floor discussions that will likely surface in negotiations over the next CBA. The cap and/or floor if enacted would be at a team level. Individual salaries would vary. As for going over a hypothetical cap with a trade that's entirely TBD by negotiations.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Good morning.

I’m kinda in bed with it. I think I gotta a handle. It’s gonna be a big deal soon, so we might as well understand the process.

My take-

Floor. Every olayer on the 26 man makes at least floor money. Nothing less.

Questions- is the floor a team event, a olayer event or are there two floors. When a player gets called up from farm. Does he get floor money.

Ceiling. Same idea. A player or team cannot go over a particular line. So many players could all make the same amount. No highest paid player anymore.

Question- how does trades affect ceilings. If you are at the ceiling team level then what:

Just a few. Thanks in advance.

MLB has a 2026 minimum player salary of $780,000. That's unrelated to the salary cap/floor discussions that will likely surface in negotiations over the next CBA. The cap and/or floor if enacted would be at a team level. Individual salaries would vary. As for going over a hypothetical cap with a trade that's entirely TBD by negotiations.

Will the CBA holdup be for this issue- cap/floor. Or is there another huckleberry.

[Mort Gage]

Good morning.

I’m kinda in bed with it. I think I gotta a handle. It’s gonna be a big deal soon, so we might as well understand the process.

My take-

Floor. Every olayer on the 26 man makes at least floor money. Nothing less.

Questions- is the floor a team event, a olayer event or are there two floors. When a player gets called up from farm. Does he get floor money.

Ceiling. Same idea. A player or team cannot go over a particular line. So many players could all make the same amount. No highest paid player anymore.

Question- how does trades affect ceilings. If you are at the ceiling team level then what:

Just a few. Thanks in advance.

MLB has a 2026 minimum player salary of $780,000. That's unrelated to the salary cap/floor discussions that will likely surface in negotiations over the next CBA. The cap and/or floor if enacted would be at a team level. Individual salaries would vary. As for going over a hypothetical cap with a trade that's entirely TBD by negotiations.

Will the CBA holdup be for this issue- cap/floor. Or is there another huckleberry.

I think the small/mid market owners will push hard for a cap. The players got few concessions out of the last CBA so I believe they will dig in their heels more this time. Ultimately the owners should win, for better or worse, as most are billionaires with income outside their teams.

[Carp4Cy]

Good morning.

I’m kinda in bed with it. I think I gotta a handle. It’s gonna be a big deal soon, so we might as well understand the process.

My take-

Floor. Every olayer on the 26 man makes at least floor money. Nothing less.

Questions- is the floor a team event, a olayer event or are there two floors. When a player gets called up from farm. Does he get floor money.

Ceiling. Same idea. A player or team cannot go over a particular line. So many players could all make the same amount. No highest paid player anymore.

Question- how does trades affect ceilings. If you are at the ceiling team level then what:

Just a few. Thanks in advance.

MLB has a 2026 minimum player salary of $780,000. That's unrelated to the salary cap/floor discussions that will likely surface in negotiations over the next CBA. The cap and/or floor if enacted would be at a team level. Individual salaries would vary. As for going over a hypothetical cap with a trade that's entirely TBD by negotiations.

Will the CBA holdup be for this issue- cap/floor. Or is there another huckleberry.

I think the issues of player minimums and free agency and so I will also be discussed. If this was the NBA then bringing up a player like JJW probably already have a guaranteed four year contract worth multiple millions per year. Not what a veteran would make, but exponentially higher than the rookie minimum today. Skenes would have been making 8 figures since his debut.

Players like Noot and Gorman and Libby would already be free agents in most other leagues. This idea of player control lasting longer than the average career, is one that’s going to go away sooner or later. Probably sooner. It benefits ownership much too heavily at the expense of the talent.

[Youboughtit]

Looking at other leagues can provide a picture of how a potential MLB cap and floor would function.

NFL
Floor- Owners must spend average of at least 90% of the cap over a 4 year period. If they are below that, the league fines ownership the amount to take them ton90% and that $ is distributed to the players who were on the roster during the time the team was below the floor.

Cap- The NFL has a hard cap, meaning every team must be below the cap number at the start of the league year (March). The cap # fluctuates slightly each year based on league revenue.

Floor and cap are for total payroll. There are league minimums, veteran minimums for individual players, but the floor/ceiling Im describing above is for total team payroll.

The lowest floor % in any sport is 83% and the big problem is the cap will likely be 300m because big markets will not reduce established payroll so the floor would be $240m. This is what I want to see. Force the small markets to spend. However it will require full revenue sharing NFL model. Players will not accept a low cap or low floor % of cap and they shouldn’t.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Looking at other leagues can provide a picture of how a potential MLB cap and floor would function.

NFL
Floor- Owners must spend average of at least 90% of the cap over a 4 year period. If they are below that, the league fines ownership the amount to take them ton90% and that $ is distributed to the players who were on the roster during the time the team was below the floor.

Cap- The NFL has a hard cap, meaning every team must be below the cap number at the start of the league year (March). The cap # fluctuates slightly each year based on league revenue.

Floor and cap are for total payroll. There are league minimums, veteran minimums for individual players, but the floor/ceiling Im describing above is for total team payroll.

The lowest floor % in any sport is 83% and the big problem is the cap will likely be 300m because big markets will not reduce established payroll so the floor would be $240m. This is what I want to see. Force the small markets to spend. However it will require full revenue sharing NFL model. Players will not accept a low cap or low floor % of cap and they shouldn’t.

Thanks man. For clarification 83% comes from were. 83 percent of what- the cap?

[45s]

Looking at other leagues can provide a picture of how a potential MLB cap and floor would function.

NFL
Floor- Owners must spend average of at least 90% of the cap over a 4 year period. If they are below that, the league fines ownership the amount to take them ton90% and that $ is distributed to the players who were on the roster during the time the team was below the floor.

Cap- The NFL has a hard cap, meaning every team must be below the cap number at the start of the league year (March). The cap # fluctuates slightly each year based on league revenue.

Floor and cap are for total payroll. There are league minimums, veteran minimums for individual players, but the floor/ceiling Im describing above is for total team payroll.

The lowest floor % in any sport is 83% and the big problem is the cap will likely be 300m because big markets will not reduce established payroll so the floor would be $240m. This is what I want to see. Force the small markets to spend. However it will require full revenue sharing NFL model. Players will not accept a low cap or low floor % of cap and they shouldn’t.

"force the small markets to spend"

so...how are going to ensure those small markets spend wisely??

[sikeston bulldog2]

Looking at other leagues can provide a picture of how a potential MLB cap and floor would function.

NFL
Floor- Owners must spend average of at least 90% of the cap over a 4 year period. If they are below that, the league fines ownership the amount to take them ton90% and that $ is distributed to the players who were on the roster during the time the team was below the floor.

Cap- The NFL has a hard cap, meaning every team must be below the cap number at the start of the league year (March). The cap # fluctuates slightly each year based on league revenue.

Floor and cap are for total payroll. There are league minimums, veteran minimums for individual players, but the floor/ceiling Im describing above is for total team payroll.

The lowest floor % in any sport is 83% and the big problem is the cap will likely be 300m because big markets will not reduce established payroll so the floor would be $240m. This is what I want to see. Force the small markets to spend. However it will require full revenue sharing NFL model. Players will not accept a low cap or low floor % of cap and they shouldn’t.

"force the small markets to spend"

so...how are going to ensure those small markets spend wisely??

What will be your measurements of wisely? Standings, championships. Only one team wins. Surely many of the losers spent wisely, yet lost.

[cardinalsfever44]

Looking at other leagues can provide a picture of how a potential MLB cap and floor would function.

NFL
Floor- Owners must spend average of at least 90% of the cap over a 4 year period. If they are below that, the league fines ownership the amount to take them ton90% and that $ is distributed to the players who were on the roster during the time the team was below the floor.

Cap- The NFL has a hard cap, meaning every team must be below the cap number at the start of the league year (March). The cap # fluctuates slightly each year based on league revenue.

Floor and cap are for total payroll. There are league minimums, veteran minimums for individual players, but the floor/ceiling Im describing above is for total team payroll.

The lowest floor % in any sport is 83% and the big problem is the cap will likely be 300m because big markets will not reduce established payroll so the floor would be $240m. This is what I want to see. Force the small markets to spend. However it will require full revenue sharing NFL model. Players will not accept a low cap or low floor % of cap and they shouldn’t.

"force the small markets to spend"

so...how are going to ensure those small markets spend wisely??

What will be your measurements of wisely? Standings, championships. Only one team wins. Surely many of the losers spent wisely, yet lost.

Think of it like this. Let's say all they did was put in a floor right now with the existing free agent talent pool currently out there. You are basically telling these teams you have to overpay (bleep) talent just to reach the floor and you're still going to get decimated by the Dodgers of the world because they can spend $ like it doesn't even matter. A cap and floor are both needed. Just saying small market teams should be forced to spend isn't the answer.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Looking at other leagues can provide a picture of how a potential MLB cap and floor would function.

NFL
Floor- Owners must spend average of at least 90% of the cap over a 4 year period. If they are below that, the league fines ownership the amount to take them ton90% and that $ is distributed to the players who were on the roster during the time the team was below the floor.

Cap- The NFL has a hard cap, meaning every team must be below the cap number at the start of the league year (March). The cap # fluctuates slightly each year based on league revenue.

Floor and cap are for total payroll. There are league minimums, veteran minimums for individual players, but the floor/ceiling Im describing above is for total team payroll.

The lowest floor % in any sport is 83% and the big problem is the cap will likely be 300m because big markets will not reduce established payroll so the floor would be $240m. This is what I want to see. Force the small markets to spend. However it will require full revenue sharing NFL model. Players will not accept a low cap or low floor % of cap and they shouldn’t.

"force the small markets to spend"

so...how are going to ensure those small markets spend wisely??

What will be your measurements of wisely? Standings, championships. Only one team wins. Surely many of the losers spent wisely, yet lost.

Think of it like this. Let's say all they did was put in a floor right now with the existing free agent talent pool currently out there. You are basically telling these teams you have to overpay (bleep) talent just to reach the floor and you're still going to get decimated by the Dodgers of the world because they can spend $ like it doesn't even matter. A cap and floor are both needed. Just saying small market teams should be forced to spend isn't the answer.

You mention a cap is needed. How does that work.

[45s]

Looking at other leagues can provide a picture of how a potential MLB cap and floor would function.

NFL
Floor- Owners must spend average of at least 90% of the cap over a 4 year period. If they are below that, the league fines ownership the amount to take them ton90% and that $ is distributed to the players who were on the roster during the time the team was below the floor.

Cap- The NFL has a hard cap, meaning every team must be below the cap number at the start of the league year (March). The cap # fluctuates slightly each year based on league revenue.

Floor and cap are for total payroll. There are league minimums, veteran minimums for individual players, but the floor/ceiling Im describing above is for total team payroll.

The lowest floor % in any sport is 83% and the big problem is the cap will likely be 300m because big markets will not reduce established payroll so the floor would be $240m. This is what I want to see. Force the small markets to spend. However it will require full revenue sharing NFL model. Players will not accept a low cap or low floor % of cap and they shouldn’t.

"force the small markets to spend"

so...how are going to ensure those small markets spend wisely??

What will be your measurements of wisely? Standings, championships. Only one team wins. Surely many of the losers spent wisely, yet lost.

Good question….if mlb is going to dictate how much a team must spend for the purpose of competitive balance….it will have to set goals and objectives for those teams…

and of course it follows that if those goal and objectives are not met….what are the repercussions?

Will mlb remove a team’s personnel that mlb determines is responsible for the failure to meet goals?

[sikeston bulldog2]

Looking at other leagues can provide a picture of how a potential MLB cap and floor would function.

NFL
Floor- Owners must spend average of at least 90% of the cap over a 4 year period. If they are below that, the league fines ownership the amount to take them ton90% and that $ is distributed to the players who were on the roster during the time the team was below the floor.

Cap- The NFL has a hard cap, meaning every team must be below the cap number at the start of the league year (March). The cap # fluctuates slightly each year based on league revenue.

Floor and cap are for total payroll. There are league minimums, veteran minimums for individual players, but the floor/ceiling Im describing above is for total team payroll.

The lowest floor % in any sport is 83% and the big problem is the cap will likely be 300m because big markets will not reduce established payroll so the floor would be $240m. This is what I want to see. Force the small markets to spend. However it will require full revenue sharing NFL model. Players will not accept a low cap or low floor % of cap and they shouldn’t.

"force the small markets to spend"

so...how are going to ensure those small markets spend wisely??

What will be your measurements of wisely? Standings, championships. Only one team wins. Surely many of the losers spent wisely, yet lost.

Good question….if mlb is going to dictate how much a team must spend for the purpose of competitive balance….it will have to set goals and objectives for those teams…

and of course it follows that if those goal and objectives are not met….what are the repercussions?

Will mlb remove a team’s personnel that mlb determines is responsible for the failure to meet goals?

Some mention as an example Premier League soccer in Europe. If you fail for X years, you’re regulated or reduced.

Wouldn’t work in this case, but I find it interesting an industry function that way.

[mattmitchl44]

A hypothetical regarding a cap/floor system. Using Cot's year end payroll numbers for 2025 and assuming:

(1) a cap/floor where the floor is 50% of the cap
(2) that the total amount of payroll to the players cannot go down
(3) that every team above the cap would came back to exactly the cap, every team below the floor would come up to exactly the floor, and every team in-between would remain constant.

Team..........2025 payroll............payroll w/a $250 M cap and $125 M floor.....change
Dodgers.........$347 M...............................$250 M...............................-$97 M
Mets.............$339 M...............................$250 M...............................-$89 M
Yankees.........$303 M...............................$250 M...............................-$53 M
Phillies...........$293 M..............................$250 M...............................-$43 M
Blue Jays........$254 M...............................$250 M...............................-$4 M

I'll skip all of the in-between teams who stay constant.

Reds.............$118 M................................$125 M...............................+$7 M
Brewers.........$117 M................................$125 M...............................+$8 M
Nationals........$112 M................................$125 M...............................+13 M
Guardians.......$100 M................................$125 M...............................+$25 M
Pirates...........$85 M.................................$125 M...............................+$40 M
White Sox........$80 M.................................$125 M..............................+$45 M
Rays...............$79 M.................................$125 M..............................+$46 M
Athletics.........$79 M..................................$125 M..............................+$46 M
Marlins............$68 M.................................$125 M..............................+$57 M

The +/- totals up to +$1 million, so the players would be getting exactly the same amount in payroll. Total 2025 payroll was $5.28 billion.