Major League Baseball on Tuesday proposed postponing the implementation of a salary cap until the 2028 season while still putting into place the other elements of its labor offer for 2027 as the current collective bargaining agreement approaches its Dec. 1 expiration.

With the MLB Players Association consistently voicing its objection to any cap, the league has pressed forward with its pursuit of a cap and floor. The opening of free agency Monday, however, and the significant likelihood of MLB locking out the players when the current labor deal expires, complicated the ability of teams to plan amid the uncertain labor landscape and prompted the proposed delay, sources told ESPN.

The $258.2 million cap and $180.2 million floor that the league projected for 2028 in a meeting with the union Tuesday was higher than the $245.3 million and $171.2 million numbers proposed by MLB as its original cap-and-floor offer for 2027.…