POLL: Salary Cap

[Bobby Ayala - Matt]

Should we raise the salary cap this year, and or for future years?

[Tecuala Juggernauts]

For anyone who thinks we shouldn't raise the cap dramatically: espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12073194/mlb-average-salary-makes-1278-percent-jump

Some highlights:

"Major League Baseball's average salary shot up to more than $3.8 million this year following the steepest rise in more than a decade, putting big leaguers on track to top the $4 million barrier for the first time in 2015."

"The 12.78 percent hike was the biggest since a 12.83 percent rise from 2000 to 2001."

"Figures are based on 910 players. The union has based its annual studies on rosters and disabled lists as of Aug. 31 -- the last day before active rosters expand from 25 per team to 40."
(So the average salary isn't watered down by all the September call-ups.)

"The average topped $1 million for the first time in 1992, crossed the $2 million barrier in 2001 and the $3 million mark in 2010."
(It took 9 years to go from 1 to 2 and 9 more years to go from 2 to 3, but it's only going to take 5 years to go from 3 to 4.)

I think we should raise it now and not tie ourselves into anything. What if the average salary goes up 10% a year for the next 5 years? That means that most of the best players - the ones we own - will likely be making more every year. Voting for set caps for anything further than a year in advance would not allow us to respond to that. We have to remain nimble and fluid in our decision-making.

[Bobby Ayala - Matt]

With 10 of 11 voters voting for a raise, and 7 of those 10 for a $150mil cap this year, option #3 passes. Our cap this year is $150mil.