What happened: Paul Skenes, a member of the players union's eight-man negotiating committee, affirmed that the union will not agree to spending restrictions as bargaining continues ahead of the five-year labor agreement's December 1 expiration. Outfielder Juan Soto, whose 15-year contract with the New York Mets would have been capped at six years and $265 million under the owners' structure, called the spending restriction unacceptable. Outfielder Mike Trout and infielder Bryce Harper also voiced opposition, with Harper noting the proposal would ban high school draftees from signing until age 20.

Why it matters: MLB owners last proposed a salary cap during the 1994-95 dispute, which resulted in a 7 1/2-month strike and cancelled the World Series. Commissioner Rob Manfred is seeking to reduce payroll disparity across the league, where top-spending clubs like the Los Angeles Dodgers carried an opening day payroll of $415.2 million this season. If the two sides do not reach a new collective bargaining agreement after the December expiration, the league is expected to initiate a lockout that could threaten the start of the 2027 regular season by late February.

What to watch: Formal collective bargaining is scheduled to resume following the conclusion of the All-Star break. Negotiations will focus on union counter-proposals that seek expanded free agency, earlier salary arbitration eligibility, and nearly doubling the major league minimum salary.