What happened: ESPN published a breakdown of the initial collective bargaining proposals shaping MLB's next labor agreement, with a salary cap headlining the early framework. The piece walks through the key terms on the table as owners and players begin negotiating ahead of the current deal's expiration.

Why it matters: A salary cap would be the sport's most consequential economic change in a generation, having been the flashpoint of the first such owner proposal since the 1994-95 strike. How the union responds will set the tone for whether the sides reach a deal or drift toward a work stoppage.

What to watch: Watch for the MLBPA's formal counter and any movement on the cap structure as bargaining sessions continue toward the December expiration.