All-Stars Paul Skenes, Juan Soto, and Bryce Harper said Monday that players will never accept a salary cap but believe there is time to avoid a work stoppage that could shorten the 2027 season. "Both sides kind of have their line that they're not going to cross," said Skenes, a member of the union's negotiating committee. Baseball's five-year labor contract expires Dec. 1, and MLB is expected to lock out players immediately.

MLB proposed a salary cap for the first time since the 1994-95 strike that canceled the World Series. Commissioner Rob Manfred says a cap is needed to reduce payroll disparity. Under the proposal, Soto's record $765 million contract would be limited to $265 million over six years. The 2027 cap would be set at $245.3 million with a $171.2 million floor, far below the Los Angeles Dodgers' $415.2 million Opening Day payroll.

Harper vowed to fight the cap and a proposed rule banning high school players from signing until age 20, citing the union's legacy since Curt Flood. "We owe it to the guys that have come before us," he said. Skenes described current talks as "perfect-world offers" with "a lot of time before there's any real movement."

Negotiations resume after the All-Star break. The union seeks expanded free agency, arbitration rights, and a higher minimum salary. San Diego closer Mason Miller expressed optimism: "I think killing that momentum is kind of fruitless for everybody."