Sports Daily: Yanks land Tanaka, Revisiting the Idea of a Salary Cap

[RaychelSnr]

Major League Baseball's new posting system rules were supposed to even the playing field for access to Japanese baseball talent. By placing a limitation on the maximum price for access to negotiate with these stars and their Japanese clubs, the Houston's and Miami's of the world could have equal footing with baseball's deep-pocket organizations.

Equal access, however, does little to buffer the real clout of contract negotiations -- who can afford the biggest contract? The New York Yankees proved that to still be true as they locked down Japanese star Masahiro Tanaka with a seven-year $155 million deal (which will essentially pay him half of what the entire Houston Astros starting nine will make in 2014).

Money spent, however, doesn't always guarantee wins and a salary cap wouldn't promise that clubs like the Astros could even afford to hit the maximum amount each year -- it would only limit the star power of the organizations that can. The MLB proved they're willing to adopt change by expanding replay for this year. Perhaps it's time for baseball to complete the modern progression by joining their basketball and football brethren with a salary cap structure to promote league balance.

Sound Off: Is it time for the MLB to adopt a salary cap like other major American professional sports?

Sports Headlines for January 23, 2014

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• You know your NFL franchise is in a sorry state when you're facing a lawsuit from the chearleaders.
• Roger Goodell has stated he would support medical marijuana if it is shown to help with concussion treatment.

[HozAndMoose]

There absolutely needs to be a salary cap. And there needs to be a set amount you have to spend. There should be no reason all teams cant afford 100 million minimum.

[DubTrey1]

Goodell supporting medical weed? Ha. Looks like head injury claims are about to go up 100% LOL.

[asu666]

Yes, I believe it's best for the league for evey team to have a real chance to win. The best thing about the NFL is not knowing who's going to win it all.

[DrJones]

I don't recall hearing screams for a salary cap when the M's signed Cano to 10/240. Must've been off OS that day.

[jmik58]

Quote: Originally Posted by DrJones

I don't recall hearing screams for a salary cap when the M's signed Cano to 10/240. Must've been off OS that day.

I think that part of the argument for a salary cap has to do with the fact that a team like Seattle can't afford to do what the Yankees can do. Seattle's total salary for the team is around $80 million. The Yankees are closer to $250 million. Seattle can add Cano at an average of $24 million a year over 10 years which takes up approximately 30% of their payroll. For the Yankees that makes up less than 10% of their payroll. So a team like Seattle can add Cano but that leaves little room for other star players. The Yankees, on the other hand, can afford a roster full of Cano-like contracts -- most organizations can't.

[DrJones]

Quote: Originally Posted by jmik58

I think that part of the argument for a salary cap has to do with the fact that a team like Seattle can't afford to do what the Yankees can do. Seattle's total salary for the team is around $80 million. The Yankees are closer to $250 million. Seattle can add Cano at an average of $24 million a year over 10 years which takes up approximately 30% of their payroll. For the Yankees that makes up less than 10% of their payroll. So a team like Seattle can add Cano but that leaves little room for other star players. The Yankees, on the other hand, can afford a roster full of Cano-like contracts -- most organizations can't.

Seattle can't afford it? Last I checked, Nintendo was worth $85 billion US.

[KMRblue1027]

Salary caps are quite honestly bull****. All they do is stymie player salaries in order to line the owners pockets with even more cash in the name of "fairness". You think salaries are so high, but proportionally in terms of revenue they continue to decline. Most teams not named the Astros or Rays could run much higher payrolls if they really wanted too, it's just not in their immediate plans.

Thing about it, football has a hard cap which keeps the players salaries well below that of their counterparts in baseball despite bringing in exponentially more income yearly while having much higher long term health impacts. How the hell is that even remotely fair?