If you are an Atlanta Braves fan, you may think the upcoming lockout and CBA negotiations could end up benefiting the team going forward. While a lot of topics are going to be on the table, including rule changes, future TV/streaming revenue splits, and even how many games end up being played, the biggest issue that is going to lead to a lengthy labor fight is easily the push for a salary cap by the owners.
At first glance, the Braves do appear as though they could benefit from a salary cap. While Atlanta usually ranks among the bigger payrolls in baseball, they are definitely not one of the teams that routinely go crazy with their spending like the Dodgers and Mets. In limiting those teams, Atlanta should be able to close the spending gap with little effort.
However, after a closer look at both the Braves' payroll situation as well as what the downstream impacts of the CBA could be, Atlanta might not be in the catbird seat that some may think they are heading into the lockout.
Braves' unique payroll situation could mean the upcoming CBA may make their lives more difficult
It is true that the Braves are not spending with reckless abandon every year, but they do spend quite a bit, and have been known to exceed the luxury tax, albeit sparingly. For 2026, Spotrac has the Braves' payroll at $263,462,438, ranking sixth in MLB in terms of payroll.
Part of the issue with a potential salary cap is that it is a hard cap. For a team that likes a little financial flexibility, especially at the trade deadline, having a firm limit on what they can spend is not ideal. A salary cap is also extremely likely to come with a salary floor, which could make the market for low- to mid-level free agents more competitive and expensive.
Complicating matters, the Braves have several long-term contracts on the books, which could further limit Atlanta's ability to spend in the world where a salary cap exists. Austin Riley ($21.2 million AAV through 2032), Matt Olson ($21 million AAV through 2029), Michael Harris II ($9 million AAV through 2030), Sean Murphy ($12.1 million AAV through 2028), and Spencer Strider ($12.5 million AAV through 2028) are all significant multi-year commitments that don't account for any other extensions the Braves hand out soon. In the world of a cap, that limits the financial wiggle room for acquisitions.
That said, the Braves have long operated with restraint in free agency as well as the trade market, and they certainly have never drastically exceeded the luxury tax. The way Alex Anthopoulos has been running the team could have prepared the organization well to operate under a cap. However, one look at their books and the landscape of baseball suggests it may not be smooth sailing.
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