2026 will be the final year played under the MLB collective bargaining agreement that was only agreed to after a 99-day lockout during the 2021-2022 offseason. Although MLB and MLBPA eventually came to terms without any games being cancelled, Atlanta Braves fans certainly remember the lockout and the aftermath that followed well.
With one last season to play before what almost inevitably looks to be a repeat of the 2021-2022 offseason, we thought we should look at what the Braves perfect list of changes would look like.
Braves wish list for changes to the next Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
A salary cap has been the biggest point of contention between MLB and the MLBPA for decades. After all, it was one reason for the player's strike back in 1994, and something that the player's union staunchly opposes.
Although the Dodgers signing Kyle Tucker for an absurd $60 million per season increased calls for a salary cap from fans and owners, the cap itself likely would not affect the Braves greatly as far as on field performance.
However, from ownership's perspective, a cap will almost no doubt be the main focus. Atlanta has been within the top-10 spending teams since 2022, even after 2025, where the Braves cut payroll by nearly $20 million, but the gap between the Mets, who had the highest payroll pre-luxury tax, and the Braves was larger than the gap between the Braves and the Marlins, who had the lowest payroll.
From the Braves ownership's perspective, a salary cap would theoretically shrink the gap between the Braves and the highest spending teams, which could help the Braves be more competitive with their signings. While a salary cap would prevent a team like the Dodgers from offering Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. $65 million per season when he becomes a free agent at the end of the 2028 season, it might also prevent the Braves from retaining Acuña.
Considering the salary commitments they already have for 2029, between Austin Riley, Matt Olson, and Michael Harris II, as well as club options for Spencer Strider and Sean Murphy, the Braves themselves might be too close to a salary cap for the club to afford Acuña anyway.
The salary cap will no doubt dominate the conversation during the next year, but it's not the only issue on the docket. Expanded postseason, compensation for younger players, revenue sharing, and anti-tanking measures will also merit some conversation. The international draft also might make it back to the table.
The Braves would probably be in favor of expanded postseason. While the team would certainly prefer to win the division outright, there's no doubt that the club would prefer to profit from postseason ticket sales than to not.
Additionally, the Braves might have benefitted this past season from stricter anti-tanking measures, as the team saw their first-overall draft pick position fall much further than projected thanks to two notorious tankers winning top-three picks.
While the 2026-2027 MLB CBA will certainly have its fair share of issues to resolve, the salary cap will no doubt be the biggest item on the list, and for the Braves ownership, it is certainly the number one desire.