The first time owners tried to push for a salary cap, it ended in a 232-day strikeout during the 1994-95 season. The next dispute came in 2021-22, ending in a 99-day lockout. But both talked only about implementing a salary cap. In 2026, though, the narrative is a little different, as the league has proposed drastic changes to the offseason schedule, too.

The current CBA will expire on December 1, and the MLB owners and the MLB Players Union are still at odds. Their rift got wider on Thursday after the owners pushed for set timelines so as to when teams can and cannot sign players. The idea is to reduce roster churn and restore a traditional full-time major league role for players to increase fan engagement during the season and the offseason. But even fans are not happy with that.

The MLB owners had already expressed their desire to make changes to free agency in their prior proposals. They want to limit contracts between a player and his new club to five years and $202 million. However, if a player stays with his current club, his contract can extend to six years and $265 million. But now, they are proposing a timeline for these free-agent decisions, as well.

Owners have proposed a smaller, three-week window for free-agent signings, similar to the NFL’s offseason transaction frenzy, instead of allowing deals throughout the entire offseason.

“Major League Baseball today proposed drastic changes to its offseason calendar, including shortening free agency to a two- to three-week window every offseason, sources tell ESPN,” Jeff Passan wrote on X.

In the current system, the dead period begins right after the World Series, when players become free agents. But they may not negotiate contract terms until the end of the dead period, at 5 PM ET on the fifth day after the World Series ends. However, the owners want to extend the dead period until the first day of the Winter Meetings in December, until 12 p.m. ET on the Monday.

During this time, players can negotiate, but teams cannot confirm deals. But they won’t be barred from making trades in this window.

The proposal also includes a revised timeline for free agency signings.

Teams can sign free agents from the Monday the Winter Meetings begin until December 21. Then, it will reopen on the first Monday of February before the start of Spring Training.

In the gap between these proposed free agent periods, no trade can take place. So, January will be a quiet month in the league, as the playoffs for the National Football League begin.

The league insisted that in this new-look winter, November signings won’t be affected that much. As reports from The Athletic noted, last offseason, 137 players became “XX(B)” free agents. These free agents garner the most attention – the players who have reached six years of service time or more.

“Of that group, only one signed during November last offseason,” MLB spokesman Glen Caplin pointed out, per The Athletic.

In 2022-23, that number was 5, followed by 6 and 8 during 2023-24 and 2024-25, respectively.

“A cap-and-floor system would unlock additional opportunities to improve the game for players and fans, creating more stability in rosters, getting the best players to the major leagues more quickly, and accelerating the pace of the offseason,” Caplin stated.

“In our current economic system, these changes would be too harmful to competitive balance and would not be practical.”

The owners’ latest proposal reinforces their primary demand for the new CBA:

The implementation of a salary cap and floor. They want to impose a salary cap of  $245.3 million and a floor of $171.2 million on teams from 2027 onwards. With the owners and the unions still at odds, a lockout in 2027 is looming. Even these offseason proposals drew criticism from Union head Bruce Meyer.

“Their latest proposals regarding free agency would eliminate player rights by establishing an artificial free agency window, subject to a salary cap, which would reduce player leverage and create a game of musical chairs pitting player vs. player,” he said in a statement. “The suggestion that the only way to limit roster churn, or incentivize earlier free agent signings, is with a salary cap is entirely unserious.”

Following the owners’ latest proposal, the MLBPA called it an attempt at turning back the clock on “fundamental player rights.”

These proposed free-agency changes have triggered fan frustration as well.

“Trying to turn this league into the NFL. Not a good look,” wrote a fan.

Another fan commented, “This is owners trying to turn the hot stove into a three-week circus they can control, then slam the door so nobody has to spend real money in January. The long, messy, rumor-filled offseason is one of the few things baseball still does better than the other leagues.”

CHGO Cubs podcaster and writer Brendan Miller’s analysis makes sense in this context. While agreeing to “like the concept,” he kept on reiterating in his repost of Jeff Passan’s update:

“My first gut reaction is this amplifies what we already experience… My worry is that free agency is consolidated in February unintentionally. The league would be assuming that teams feel an urgency in December to react instead of waiting to the second window.”

“Owners just want to cut down day-to-day expenses and not pay staff. Cheap SOBs,” another user remarked.

One wrote, “I like it, but that definitely kills all the hot stove convo in those dead periods. Not sure it’s smart to have a time of year when noone talks about your sport.”

We all like to speculate, converse, analyze, and grind through our offseason window. That fun would definitely be gone.

“Did they ask ChatGPT what the dumbest possible proposal would be?” jibed a fan.

A fan commented, “Sounds like MLB needs a new commissioner.”

With the CBA deadline approaching, MLB’s proposed offseason changes have added another layer of tension to an already complicated negotiation. But these were not the only changes included in the proposal.

MLB’s proposed changes in roster, IL and Rule 5 Draft

The league has proposed a new roster rule, similar to the current postseason roster.

Every Monday, teams would set their 26-man active roster. Per the league, it allows a window from the end of Sunday’s game until Monday afternoon to make standard roster moves. Permitted exceptions would also be available for injuries, bereavement/paternity absences, trades, and waiver claims. With that, the IL structure would also change.

The 60-day IL would also be replaced with a 12-week minimum, though existing 40-man roster exemptions would remain.

The in-season options to the Minors have also been reduced – from 5 to 4. In fact, minor league assignments for position players and pitchers have also been modified, just like the IL.

If the proposal is accepted, teams will be able to carry 14 pitchers on their active rosters instead of 13.

Per MLB.com, “This reduced transactional frequency would help teams maintain a more consistent roster, allowing fans to build a deeper familiarity with players while also mitigating instability for players.”

Since 2011, in-season Major League transactions have nearly doubled, making it difficult for fans to recognize and connect with their favorite team’s roster. With these changes, owners think the connection will grow.

Coming to the annual Rule 5 Draft, it allows players stuck in deep farm systems to receive more opportunities to make it to a 40-man roster. Currently, teams select players other teams have left unprotected. After that, they must carry that player on their big-league roster for a full year. If that doesn’t happen, they have to send the player back to their original team. The league’s proposal changes that, too.

MLB has proposed to accelerate Rule 5 Draft eligibility by one year, making players under 20 eligible to be selected at the fourth Rule 5 Draft after signing their first contract. Players at 20 and older can be selected at the third Rule 5 Draft after signing their first contract.

Players selected in the Rule 5 Draft can be optioned to the Minors rather than having to stick on an active Major League roster or being sent back to their original team. They would be required to remain on the 40-man roster of the club that selected them.

“Combined with MLB’s First-Year Player Draft (Domestic) and International Amateur Talent System proposals, most college players could be Rule 5 eligible up to two years earlier than they currently are, while the timeline for most international players would remain status quo,” reported MLB.com.

With the 11:59 PM ET Dec. 1 deadline getting closer by the minute, it is expected that negotiations won’t settle down at least until Spring Training. The salary cap, offseason moves, roster changes, and everything together have only intensified the conversations. Unless there’s a conclusion, and until the new season starts, the definite effects cannot be determined. Don’t you think?