New Baseball Union Head Rejects Salary Cap, Defends Free Agency

Bruce Meyer vows to protect players' rights to free agency and salary arbitration in first full day as union chief.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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In his first full day as the new head of the baseball players' union, Bruce Meyer firmly defended free agency and salary arbitration, ruling out any possibility of a salary cap or other restrictions on player compensation.

Why it matters

The relationship between team owners and players over issues like free agency and salaries has long been contentious in professional baseball. Meyer's strong stance signals that the union will continue to aggressively protect players' rights and earning potential.

The details

Meyer, who took over as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association in January, said the union will not accept any salary cap or other limits on player contracts. He emphasized that free agency and salary arbitration are essential to the sport and must be preserved.

  • Bruce Meyer became the new head of the baseball players' union in January 2026.

The players

Bruce Meyer

The new executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, taking over the role in January 2026.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

Meyer's strong defense of free agency and arbitration rights signals that the players' union will continue to be a formidable force in negotiating with team owners over compensation issues that have long been a source of tension in Major League Baseball.