The Cleveland Guardians might not say so out loud, but they likely take great pride in having the success they do while not spending that much money. This year, the Guardians were within two wins of making it to the World Series with the lowest payroll in baseball.
But depending on how the ongoing labor negotiations wind up, those days may be over for Cleveland. While a salary cap might be intended to increase competitive balance, it comes with a corresponding floor, which is designed to help in that regard as well.
That is why the Guardians could be among the teams most affected by MLB’s payroll proposal, as they would be forced to increase their spending, which would be contrary to their recent blueprint.
“MLB wants teams to be limited to a $245.3 million payroll in 2027, with a minimum of $154.1 million. Teams would also have to meet a multi-year ‘floor’ too. Each season from 2027 to 2030 would have an assigned floor amount, and clubs would have to make sure they reach the sum of those amounts by the end of 2030. In 2026, the Mets ($359.4 million) and Dodgers ($432.8 million) had the highest payrolls per Cot’s Contracts, while the Cleveland Guardians ($93.1 million) and Miami Marlins ($84.1 million) had the lowest,” Evan Drellich wrote.
Cleveland is bound to spend more on payroll at some point, with many of its core players yet to reach free agency. If the current system stays the same, the Guardians also have several important arbitration hearings on the horizon, which could result in significant raises for starting pitcher Gavin Williams, closer Cade Smith, and outfielders Steven Kwan and Jo Adell, among others.
Fans are hopeful that an ownership change from the Dolan family to David Blitzer will also increase the payroll. However, The Athletic previously reported that “the expectation is that the club’s payroll won’t dramatically change unless the league revamps its methods of revenue distribution, including on the TV front.” But that was before this potential proposal came to light.
The Guardians have been able to succeed by replacing higher-priced players with talent from its impressive farm system. But if the franchise is going to be forced to spend more money anyway, it could wind up keeping players who it might have let go in the past.
With players like Parker Messick, Chase DeLauter, and Travis Bazzana likely able to remain under team control for a few more years, the Guardians should be able to take advantage of whatever system is put in place for baseball’s future.
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