Major League Baseball wants to hit the brakes on its salary cap plan by one year.

The league proposed Tuesday that a cap and floor would not start until the 2028 season. The rest of its labor offer would still begin in 2027.

The current collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1. Many expect the owners to lock out the players when it does.

Why wait a year

Free agency opened on Monday. The labor fight has made it hard for teams to plan their offseason.

MLB said in a statement that teams need a full offseason to get ready to work under a cap. It said the delay would not hold back key benefits for players, such as earlier free agency and a $1 million minimum salary.

The numbers

The league projected a $258.2 million cap and a $180.2 million floor for 2028. Its first offer for 2027 was a $245.3 million cap and a $171.2 million floor.

Twelve teams would need to raise their payrolls to reach the projected floor. That includes the World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers. Eight teams spent more than the cap would allow.

MLB also offered to pay players $282 million in luxury tax money in cash.

Players are not budging

The MLB Players Association has been clear that it will not accept a cap. Union officials have said players would lose more than $1 billion over the life of the league's plan.

"MLB owners continue to propose blowing up the current system and replacing it with one designed to line their pockets and increase their franchise values," the union said in a statement.

The union wants a $300 million luxury tax threshold. It also wants the minimum salary raised from $780,000 to $1.5 million.

Baseball's last lockout came in December 2021. It lasted 99 days before ending in March 2022.