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I just can't understand why we'd want to punish the well run clubs by creating a welfare league for the poorly run clubs by capping teams out.

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I don't know that I would use "punish" and "welfare," but the answer to your point is simple: you NEED those teams to have a viable league and not every team is going to be a large market, rich one.

On the field, the Rangers (for example) want to beat the Astros (and vice-versa) but neither want the other to fold. Essentially a form of a cartel. If you want to scrutinize small market teams for relocation, go for it. But for dissolution, that's not a good idea.

TarponChaser said:

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I think these would piss off both sides pretty equally but would actually work well for the game.

• Hard salary cap
• Hard salary floor
• End blackouts
• Fix the ability of fans to stream all games across multiple platforms
• Pooling and equal distribution of all media rights proceeds
• Fix the service time manipulation (something like 90-100 days on the MLB active roster)
• Arbitration eligible after 2 years
• Unrestricted after 5 years
• Owners required to re-expand MiLB rosters and clubs so that players actually have a path to develop
• Increase MLB active rosters to 30 players w/ 16 pitcher max (September call-ups go to 32)
• End deferred contracts (clubs can grandfather in 50% of their current deferred contracts, otherwise they have to trade guys)

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this would be awesome

Interesting stories in the news the past couple of days about MLB possibly rooting hard for the Dodgers so they can use it as ammunition to force a salary cap on the players.

I found this quote from Alex Kirshner particularly relevant to our discussion here.

( https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7688886/2026/10/14/dodgers-nlcs-mlb-lockout-the-pulse/ )

My two cents, as someone who roots for a different low-paying ballclub (the Pirates): Baseball isn't "fair," but few things in life are, and the biggest impediments to my team's competitiveness are that the owner doesn't try hard and his executive team has done a terrible job. This makes me disinclined to support the owners, whose real interest is not "fairness" but a simpler path to escalating franchise values.

AggieEP said:

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Interesting stories in the news the past couple of days about MLB possibly rooting hard for the Dodgers so they can use it as ammunition to force a salary cap on the players.

I found this quote from Alex Kirshner particularly relevant to our discussion here.

( https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7688886/2026/10/14/dodgers-nlcs-mlb-lockout-the-pulse/ )

My two cents, as someone who roots for a different low-paying ballclub (the Pirates): Baseball isn't "fair," but few things in life are, and the biggest impediments to my team's competitiveness are that the owner doesn't try hard and his executive team has done a terrible job. This makes me disinclined to support the owners, whose real interest is not "fairness" but a simpler path to escalating franchise values.

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Meanwhile I've seen conspiracy theories on social media which claim the bigger market teams like the Yankees & Dodgers threw their respective playoff series to undermine the owner's claims to need a salary cap.

Nobody reputable saying it that I can see but just wild conspiracy theories.

I love conspiracy theories. Imagine losing on purpose with the Dodgers roster just so they could all get a year older. I won't be surprised if the Dodgers dynasty is done, they've got major problems up and down the roster with big money committed to aging and injured stars.

AggieEP said:

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I love conspiracy theories. Imagine losing on purpose with the Dodgers roster just so they could all get a year older. I won't be surprised if the Dodgers dynasty is done, they've got major problems up and down the roster with big money committed to aging and injured stars.

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That's part of the plan. Once the owner has to sell for fraud, the new owners won't honor the contracts. So the current players can join the fans in hating that POS organization.

AggieEP said:

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I love conspiracy theories. Imagine losing on purpose with the Dodgers roster just so they could all get a year older. I won't be surprised if the Dodgers dynasty is done, they've got major problems up and down the roster with big money committed to aging and injured stars.

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Seems that some orgs have done that in the past. Like, it's been a while but the Marlins loaded up with an expensive roster of FA guys to make a run and it paid off with World Series wins in 1997 and 2003 but I remember them fire-selling to dump salary immediately after each run.

The Yankees & Braves of the 90's and early 00's, Astros from 2017-2024, and Dodgers recently having sustained success are the exceptions.