Juan Soto, along with Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, are among the highest-paid players in Major League Baseball, commanding staggering contracts in today’s market. This growing financial gap has fueled concerns and renewed discussions around implementing a salary cap in MLB to address the imbalance in player earnings.
While proponents argue the current structure rewards the most talented stars who drive fan engagement and boost MLB’s global appeal, critics highlight the widening wage disparity as toxic for the sport’s competitive balance and overall health.
Former Yankees Coach Advocates Salary Cap and Floor Like Other Major Leagues
Sean Casey, ex-hitting coach for the New York Yankees, presented his argument for MLB to adopt a salary cap and salary floor system during his appearance on
“The Mayor’s Office with Sean Casey.”
He compared MLB’s financial model unfavorably with leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and NHL, which use these mechanisms to maintain parity across teams.
“Look how healthy the NBA is, look how healthy the NFL is, look how healthy the NHL is, all have salary caps. Right now, it’s not healthy that 51 players are making 50% of the money in the big leagues. It’s not healthy that the owners are making way over 50% of the money and the players are making a little over 40.” Casey said [12:45]
“Something’s gotta give here. It’s not healthy that teams can have a payroll of less than what Shohei Ohtani makes in a year. I think the floor needs to go up. You need to force some of these owners to a $120 million baseline, to put a good product on the field.” Casey added
Salary Differences Highlighted by Industry Insider Comparing MLB and NBA Earnings
Industry insider Rich Ciancimino shed light on the stark contrast between MLB salaries and those in the NBA, illustrating how even lesser-known NBA players earn amounts comparable to top MLB stars. He emphasized that players who serve as key reserves in the NBA earn figures similar to Aaron Judge – one of MLB’s highest-paid athletes.
“I’m looking at the contracts for some of these guys in the NBA, and I’m like, wow. Sixth man, seventh man on an NBA roster, making like Aaron Judge money, dude. They are up there, $100 million contracts are like skittles in the NBA, it’s crazy.” Ciancimino said [13:43]
This discrepancy becomes clearer when comparing the numbers: in the current MLB season, only five players including Ohtani, Judge, Alex Bregman, Zack Wheeler, and Juan Soto are set to earn $40 million or more. By contrast, the 2024-25 NBA season saw 26 players crossing the $40 million threshold, highlighting the vast earning gap between the leagues.
Implications for MLB’s Future and Competitive Balance
The significant income disparity in MLB, underscored by the juxtapositions with leagues like the NBA and NFL, raises questions about fairness and competitiveness. The current system allows some teams to maintain extremely low payrolls, potentially weakening the league’s product and fan experience.
Calls for implementing a salary cap and floor suggest a shift toward regulating earnings to promote balance and sustainability. If MLB adopts these measures, it could reshape payroll strategies, encourage greater parity among teams, and help ensure the integrity of the game over the long term.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Juan Soto a free-agent in 2025?
A. “I need to improve,” he mentioned, according to Jon Heyman from the New York Post. This 26-year-old player just began his first season with the Mets. He joined the team after signing a 15-year, $765 million contract as a free agent in December 2024, marking the biggest deal in MLB history.
Q. Why is Juan Soto so special?
A. Soto gets his hits by consistently making strong contact with the ball. His skill at judging the strike zone helps him earn walks. These abilities combined make Soto stand out as a player who deserves to get on base more than any other MLB hitter. This holds true for his current performance as well as his track record since he joined the major leagues at 19 in 2018.
Q. How much will Juan Soto make in 2025?
A. Juan Soto has the record for the biggest contract ever in professional sports. In December, he signed a 15-year contract worth $765 million with the New York Mets. For 2025, his salary will be $61.88 million, making him the top-paid player in baseball.
Q. Why do people think Juan Soto is so good?
A. He is known for hitting the ball in any direction, even with two strikes against him. By the end of the 2020 season, Soto had a total of 69 home runs in MLB. Remarkably, he hit 23 to left field, 23 to center, and 23 to right field.