MLB and the Salary Cap

It took this long for some owner to actually realize that MLB might need a salary cap. Most of them are being diplomatic right now when it comes to complaining about teams like the Yankees. Here's what Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said when it came down to that team from the Bronx:

"[The tax] doesn't seem to stop them," Attanasio said on Wednesday. "But I don't blame the Yankees, I blame the system. The Yankees are playing within the rules of the system. This isn't sour grapes. You can't blame the team so you have to change the system. They have a lot of very intelligent business people there. I'm sure they're working within their economics."

Three more years until we have any shot at a change in the system. That's the length remaining on the current labor agreement. Interesting that on the same day mlb.com posted an article about a salary cap, they also posted one about lifers becoming a thing of the past. One of the problems with a salary cap is the inability to retain your own players if you're too close to the cap. This, agreed, is a issue. It's one of the things I don't like about the current NHL salary cap. The cap is good for cost-certainty, but you tell me how the Rangers are going to re-sign some of these homegrown players in a few years with the likes of Drury, Gomez, and Redden all still making top dollar? Add to that the likelihood that the cap will go down.

The solution for MLB is simple (and the NHL for that matter when their next labor agreement is worked out): a soft cap. Or some type of a Larry Bird rule. Find a way to have a system where you have a cap when it comes to signing free agents from other teams but no limit to re-signing homegrown players. It will preserve economic stability and keep fan interest high. Under this type of system we wouldn't have to worry too much about the Yankees signing away Jose Reyes in December 2010 to replace then 36-year-old Derek Jeter, who's contract also happens to expire at the same time. Oh wait, we'll still be under the current agreement at the time. Omar, time to get that extension ready.