How will KBO's competitive equilibrium change...The salary cap lower limit + one-club man exception clause has been created
Sep 24, 2025
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▶ Setting the upper limit
The upper limit of the competitive balance tax will be raised by 5% every year for three years from 2026 to 2028.
Therefore, the upper limit of KRW 13.71 billion this year is adjusted to KRW 14.39723 billion in 2026, KRW 15.11 billion in 2027 and KRW 15.872.94 billion in 2028.
▶ Adjustment of baseball development fund payments
In order to prevent the club's investment contraction due to excessive payment of the baseball development fund, the amount of baseball generators paid when the upper limit is exceeded will be partially adjusted. In the case of one excess, the amount equivalent to 50% of the excess was adjusted to pay 30% of the excess from the amount paid by the Baseball Development Fund. In the case of two consecutive excesses, 100% of the excess will be paid to the Baseball Development Fund and a nine-step decline in the first round of the following year will be adjusted to pay 50% of the excess, and the decline in the nomination rights will be abolished. The decision to pay 150% of the excess to the Baseball Development Fund for three consecutive excesses and impose a nine-step drop in the first round of the following year to pay 100% of the excess and maintain the decline in the nomination rights. In addition, the baseball development fund paid in excess will be used only for youth and amateur development purposes.
▶ Revision of the standard for calculating the total amount of contracts
In order to prevent the bypass of the competitive equal tax system through transformation contracts, the standard for calculating the total amount of contracts will be revised. Therefore, for new multi-year contract players to be concluded in the future, the total cost is calculated by adding the option payment details to the average amount obtained by dividing the total amount of annual salary and down payment by the contract years.
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In order to enhance fan loyalty, it has decided to introduce an exceptional player system that excludes part of the annual salary of one franchise player designated by the club from the calculation of the total amount of competitive equal tax. Each year, the club may designate one player with a history of registering as a player belonging to at least seven seasons as an exception. When calculating the total amount of remuneration for the top 40 players of the club to calculate the total amount of competitive equal tax, 50% of the annual salary of exceptional players (including down payment and options) is excluded.
▶ Lower limit introduction
In order to secure the league's financial equity and competitive balance, it was decided to introduce a lower limit. Over the past two years (2023-2024), the average amount of the lowest-ranking clubs of the top 40 players in the total remuneration for each club, KRW 6,065.38 million, was set as the lower limit. The lower limit will be introduced from 2027 and will be raised by 5% annually. If the lower limit is not met, the club will pay 30% of the shortfall, 50% of the shortfall if it is not met twice in a row, and 100% of the shortfall if it is not met three times in a row to the Youth Development Fund.
The KBO board of directors confirmed the opening date of next year's regular season as March 28 (Saturday) in consideration of the WBC being held in March 2026. The exhibition game will be played 12 games per team from March 12 (Thursday) to 24 (Tuesday), and the All-Star Game will be held on July 11 (Saturday).
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
