Empire State of Baseball

EST. 2022 • Parent Company: @Diamond_SMedia • Hosts: @CoreyFavs @JRPugs @RichJRivera @TWospil • Team Coverage: @ESBNYM @ESBNYY ⚾️🎙️🔥

[Empire State of Baseball @ESBPodcast]

https://t.co/H8SvX19lJo

[Empire State of Baseball @ESBPodcast]

Oh how awesome is this?!

[Backyard Sports @_BackyardSports]

Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Vlad Guerrero, Kenny Lofton, Chipper Jones, Jason Giambi, and Jeff Bagwell officially return to Backyard Baseball!

https://t.co/Yv9rJHA7n7

[CFAVS @coreyfavs]

Jalen Brunson has the heart of every kid to ever hit the blacktop in NYC schoolyards.

That’s my MVP #alwaysknicks

[Empire State of Baseball @ESBPodcast]

https://t.co/UHWLfvgKPr

[ESB/NYY @ESBNYY]

Big congratulations to one of our very own ESB founders, Rich, who is getting married today! 💍

Wishing you and your bride a lifetime of love, happiness, and unforgettable memories together. Everyone drop a huge congratulations for Rich in the comments! 👏❤️ @RichJRivera

[Empire State of Baseball @ESBPodcast]

Should we setup a live stream today for Rich’s wedding?

@ESBNYY @ESBNYM

[Empire State of Baseball @ESBPodcast]

If I had a gut guess. My guess is the owners will eventually get their Cap. Every other league the owners have eventually won this. I don’t know how long the players will be able to hold the line. Eventually the allure of higher base salaries, veteran minimums ect will wear down rank and file union. It might cost the owners a 52-48 split instead of 50/50. -@Jrpugs

[Empire State of Baseball @ESBPodcast]

Mets would need to decline Robert, (Holmes declines) then buyout a Manaea or Semien and probably trade Senga to get under. It would be a lot of work but not impossible.

[Spotrac @spotrac]

MLB has reportedly proposed a salary cap model to the MLBPA that would come with a $245.3M ceiling, & a $171.2M floor.

2026 Payrolls Above the Proposed Ceiling
NYM: +$88M
LAD: +$55M
NYY: +$46M
TOR: +$36M
PHI: +$36M
ATL: +$21M

2026 Payrolls Below the Proposed Floor
MIA: -$92M
CLE: -$90M
CHW: -$80M
WSH: -$77M
ATH: -$76M
STL: -$76M
TB: -$68M
PIT: -$67M
MIN: -$66M
COL: -$54M
MIL: -$42M
CIN: -$38M
KC: -$25M
SEA: -$9M
BAL: -$4M

[Empire State of Baseball @ESBPodcast]

@GreatHambino28 Yes but I doubt the union would approve that to not be included. Can also see a scenario where all pre existing “dead or retained salary” wouldn’t count either.

[Empire State of Baseball @ESBPodcast]

Assuming in this scenario MLB would allow a one player buyout without penalty per what the NBA did so teams could get under the “cap”

[Bob Nightengale @BNightengale]

The MLB salary cap proposal is at $245.3 million, meaning that 8 clubs would have to reduce payroll by a combined $578 million:
The Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, Blue Jays, Phillies, Red Sox, Padres and Atlanta.

[Empire State of Baseball @ESBPodcast]

$171.2 million dollar floor is a BIG number. Players will have a hard time countering a floor that is higher than half the leagues payrolls in 2026.

[Evan Drellich @EvanDrellich]

Major League Baseball has made its cap proposal:
2027 cap: $245.3 million
Floor: $171.2 million

A 50-50 split in revenues.

More to come.

[Empire State of Baseball @ESBPodcast]

Last time Manfred used the increase in minimum salary to divide the Union. With this on the table so early, the chances that tactic is used again is high. Giving big raises to rank and file splits them from the elite players with mega deals. Union will have to be wary of that.

[Empire State of Baseball @ESBPodcast]

One thing I will say.

Owners are not going to agree to double the salary, have a minimum spend, increase the CBT threshold, reduce years of control all at once. It’s why it’s the first. But it’s an extreme ask that is unrealistic.

[Jeff Passan @JeffPassan]

The MLBPA made its first proposal to MLB today in collective bargaining. Among the topline issues:

- A "competitive-integrity tax" for any team that does not spend $150M
- Increase minimum salary from $780,000 to $1.5M
- Increase in base CBT threshold from $244M to $300M

[Empire State of Baseball @ESBPodcast]

Labor talks have started. Some interesting proposals here. Curious to see where the owners start, a “cap” will almost certainly be the first item.

[Jeff Passan @JeffPassan]

The MLBPA made its first proposal to MLB today in collective bargaining. Among the topline issues:

- A "competitive-integrity tax" for any team that does not spend $150M
- Increase minimum salary from $780,000 to $1.5M
- Increase in base CBT threshold from $244M to $300M

[Empire State of Baseball @ESBPodcast]

In non-baseball talk for @nyknicks fans, which team would you rather go up against in the finals?

#alwaysknicks

[Empire State of Baseball @ESBPodcast]

Happy Birthday Corey (@coreyfavs)!

We want to send our best wishes to the creative genius behind our Instagram reels and 1/4 of @ESBNYM and SHEA’P UP!

#ESBirthday🎂

[Empire State of Baseball @ESBPodcast]

The Mets are officially done for the 2026 season (per co-host @coreyfavs).

In a week that should have been at worst 4-3, it ended up 2-5.

We may get back to .500, but the correct course of action is to sell & play the kids. Re-build for 2028 (there is no 2027 season people)

[CFAVS @coreyfavs]

Absolutely absurd pulling Myers at that point.

Starter my ass. He was a glorified opener. Absolutely ridiculous.