What happened: ESPN published a detailed breakdown of the initial proposals shaping the next MLB collective bargaining agreement, with a salary cap as the headline item alongside other structural changes. The report walks through what each side is putting on the table as negotiations open.

Why it matters: A salary cap would be the most significant change to MLB's economic structure in decades, touching every franchise's payroll flexibility and the players' long-held opposition to a hard ceiling. How these opening proposals are received sets the tone for whether the sides head toward a deal or a standoff. This continues the thread ESPN first laid out earlier this month.

What to watch: Watch for the players' association response to the cap framework and whether a salary floor is paired with it in subsequent rounds of bargaining.