Sports
MLB Salary Cap Proposal: What a Cap and Floor Could Look Like
The proposed cap would be between $260 and $280 million, and the proposed floor would be between $140 and $160 million. Currently, five teams are above the upper quadrant of the proposed cap, and eleven teams are below the bottom quadrant of the floor. That’s probably the biggest issue to address when discussing a proposed cap.
It’s unfair to expect teams to overhaul their already constructed rosters in one year in order to be within the cap. Teams would need a transition period to reach the target. Maybe rules could be put in place that prevent teams from making more signings if they are a certain amount over the cap.
The MLB could institute its version of a second apron. In the NBA, if a team is above the second apron, they are penalized with strict tax penalties, cannot make trades that aggregate contracts, have their first-round pick moved to the end of the draft, and can only sign players to the veteran minimum.
Most of these penalties would not occur in the first year the cap is implemented, but they could immediately force teams above the cap to no longer be able to offer contracts to free agents outside the veteran minimum or minor league deals.
Another massive issue that would need to be solved is deferred contracts. The most obvious solution is limit the amount of time or the amount that can be deferred for each contract. Unfortunately, teams like the Dodgers have billions in deferred money on the books, so I’m not sure how you could fix that. Those contracts are ruining baseball, but they might just need to be grandfathered in.
Another key piece is teams well under the salary floor. The Cleveland’s and Miami’s of the world currently have rosters that are hardly half of the salary floor. I wonder if they will have to restructure most of the contracts on their team, or if they will have to make swings for contracts on teams over the cap, so both sides can be within the rules.
Another speed bump is that many players feel that a cap limits the potential earnings for the entire league. I fully disagree with that sentiment. The days of players getting $750M over ten years might be done, but the bottom half of the league will see very nice pay bumps as teams try to raise their salary floors.
Another issue comes with the percentage of the cap floor. In the NFL and NBA, the cap floor is 90% of the cap ceiling. Owners would never allow a number that high, but the players would probably like that, as it would almost force every team to have at least one “max contract”.
Implementing a cap will be a difficult process, and both sides will face issues with it, but to maintain competitive balance in the league, it’s necessary.
Sports
WTA roundup: Maria Sakkari reaches hometown final in Athens
Maria Sakkari hits during her loss to Iga Swiatek in round 3 of the women’s singles at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., March 9, 2026. Maria Sakkari moved within one victory of lifting a trophy in her hometown Saturday, defeating Russia’s Alina Korneeva 6-1, 7-5 to reach the final of the Athens Open.
The fourth-seeded Sakkari controlled the opening set before Korneeva provided more resistance in the second, but the Greek favorite completed the victory in 1 hour, 23 minutes. Sakkari’s run comes 40 years after her mother, Angeliki Kanellopoulou, reached the final of a WTA tournament in Athens.
Sakkari will face No. 3 seed Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic, who eliminated top-seeded Clara Tauson of Denmark 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Krejcikova regrouped after dropping the second set to reach her first final of the season in a match that was nearly twice as long as the other semifinal at two hours and 45 minutes.
UniCredit Iasi Open
Spain’s Paula Badosa extended her winning streak to nine matches by rallying past Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (1) in the semifinals at Iasi, Romania.
Badosa recovered after dropping the opening set and was pushed deep into the next two. The former world No. 2 finally took control in the crucial tiebreaker, winning six straight points and advancing to her second straight final after winning last week’s Nordea Open.
Egypt’s Mayar Sherif claimed the other spot in the championship match by dispatching third-seeded Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine 6-3, 6-1. Sherif won 10 of the final 11 games to reach her first tour-level final in two years.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Blue Jays blank White Sox, snap 3-game skid behind Shane Bieber's strong start
Jul 18, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Shane Bieber (57) throws a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images Shane Bieber pitched six strong innings Saturday afternoon and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Chicago White Sox 1-0.
Bieber (1-1) allowed three hits and two walks with six strikeouts in his fifth start of the season. George Springer’s RBI single in the fourth against Davis Martin (9-5) was the difference in the game.
Louis Varland pitched a perfect ninth with one strikeout to earn his 20th save and end Toronto’s three-game losing streak. The White Sox had won four straight.
The teams have split the first two of a three-game series, with the White Sox leading the season series 4-1.
During a pregame ceremony, the 1992-93 Blue Jays, who won back-to-back World Series titles, were honored. There was also the unveiling of a statue honoring Joe Carter’s ninth-inning World Series-winning homer in 1993.
Martin retired eight batters in a row before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled off the center field wall with one out in the fourth. Springer then grounded an RBI single up the middle to give the Blue Jays the lead.
Meanwhile, Bieber survived a leadoff double and a walk in the fourth and a leadoff double in the fifth.
The Blue Jays failed to capitalize on a single, a stolen base and a walk in their fifth.
Martin walked Guerrero to lead off the sixth before striking out the next two batters. Sean Newcomb replaced Martin and allowed Daulton Varsho’s double off the wall in right-center. Alejandro Kirk was intentionally walked to load the bases before Andres Gimenez grounded out to end the threat.
Martin allowed one run, four hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
Jeff Hoffman took over in the seventh from Bieber and pitched around a leadoff walk with two strikeouts and a groundout.
Chase Meidroth led off the White Sox eighth with a bunt single against Tyler Rogers. Pinch runner Luisangel Acuna was caught stealing and Rogers finished the inning with a strikeout and a flyout.
Toronto recalled right-hander Lazaro Estrada and left-hander Brendon Little from Triple-A Buffalo. Left-hander Adam Macko and right-hander CJ Van Eyk were optioned to Buffalo.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros SS Jeremy Pena, 1B Christian Walker exit with injuries
Jun 28, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (3) receives congratulations from first baseman Christian Walker (8) after scoring tenth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena and first baseman Christian Walker departed with injuries on Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles.
Pena displayed discomfort during his second plate appearance against Orioles left-hander Trevor Rogers before striking out in the bottom of the third inning. Pena, visited by Astros manager Joe Espada and a member of the training staff during the at-bat, was replaced defensively by Nick Allen for the top of the fourth.
The Astros announced that Pena sustained a hamstring cramp. He missed 32 games earlier this season with a Grade 1 hamstring strain.
Walker was visited by Espada and a trainer during his second at-bat in the bottom of the fourth. He departed immediately and was replaced by pinch-hitter LaMonte Wade Jr. According to the club, Walker left with right hip tightness.
This season, Pena has posted six home runs, 22 RBIs and .357 on-base percentage in 52 games. Walker has recorded 20 home runs and 58 RBIs in 97 games.
–Field Level Media
WTA roundup: Maria Sakkari reaches hometown final in Athens
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