Rob Manfred says some MLB fans concerned over lack of salary cap - ESPN

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred says he is getting emails from fans concerned over the sport's lack of a salary cap following an offseason spending spree by the Los Angeles Dodgers that sparked increased attention over the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement in December 2026.

«This is an issue that we need to be vigilant on,» Manfred said Thursday following the end of an owners' meeting. «We need to pay attention to it and need to determine whether there are things that can be done to allay those kinds of concerns and make sure we have a competitive and healthy game going forward.»

Baseball's biggest spender in 2024 won the World Series: The Dodgers had a $353 million luxury tax payroll and had to pay a $103 million tax. The Athletics had the lowest luxury tax payroll at just under $84 million.

«The Dodgers are a really well-run, successful organization,» Manfred said. «Everything that they do and have done is consistent with our rules. They're trying to give their fans the best possible product. Those are all positives. I recognize, however, and my emails certainly reflect that there are fans in other markets who are concerned about their team's ability to compete. And we always have to be concerned when our fans are concerned about something. But pinning it on the Dodgers, I'm not in that camp.»

The American League champion Yankees — one of baseball's biggest spenders for decades — even have concerns about where the game is going on the financial front, and how it's challenging to match the way the Dodgers can spend.

«It's difficult for most of us owners to be able to do the kinds of things that they're doing. We'll see if it pays off,» Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said in an