MLB, union at odds over Olympic participation rules as mandatory-play proposal draws resistance
NEW YORK, Aug. 17. A proposal that would force Major League Baseball players to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and dock their pay for nearly a month if they refuse, has drawn sharp opposition from the MLB Players Association, according to a report from ESPN.
Key takeaways
- A proposal to require MLB players to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics—and dock nearly a month of pay for those who refuse—has drawn sharp opposition from the MLB Players Association, according to ESPN.
- MLB owners back players competing in Olympic baseball for the first time, and the league has agreed to shut down the regular season for 11 days to accommodate the tournament and the preceding All-Star Game.
- The union opposes a mandatory-participation clause that would place declining players on the restricted list for close to a month without pay, and objects to commissioner Rob Manfred retaining power to discipline players 'for just cause.'
- The six-team Olympic tournament will be held at Dodger Stadium, with the United States qualifying as host and the Dominican Republic and Venezuela qualifying during this year's World Baseball Classic.
- Players including Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Mike Trout have expressed interest in participating.
NEW YORK, Aug. 17. A proposal that would force Major League Baseball players to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and dock their pay for nearly a month if they refuse, has drawn sharp opposition from the MLB Players Association, according to a report from ESPN.
Owners have backed the idea of MLB players competing in Olympic baseball for the first time, and the league has already agreed to shut down the regular season for 11 days to accommodate the tournament and the preceding All-Star Game. The disagreement is over the terms attached to that participation.
Punishment proposal and union pushback
The sticking point, according to ESPN, is a mandatory-participation clause that would place any declining player on the restricted list for close to a month without pay. The MLBPA strongly opposes the proposal. Ian Penny, a special adviser at the union, said in an email last month that the organization is "seeking fair treatment for its members in consideration for the substantial financial value they would bring to LA28." Penny added that the union's proposals were designed, at a minimum, to prevent players from losing money through expenses or lost commercial rights. He described them as "particularly modest and imminently reasonable" given the financial benefits flowing to other stakeholders in the Games.
The union also objects to the scope of commissioner Rob Manfred's disciplinary authority under the proposal, according to ESPN, saying Manfred would retain the power to discipline players "for just cause."
Logistics still unresolved
Accommodations remain unsettled. The LA28 committee has offered 435 hotel rooms, and Major League Baseball has already reserved 200 of its own, with 100 designated for its players and 100 for the Japanese national team, which is expected to qualify late next year. Four players told ESPN they planned to stay at the Olympic Village on UCLA's campus, with the hotel rooms intended for families.
Tickets present a separate dispute. The LA28 committee has told players they could buy two tickets per game in which they compete, with the possibility of purchasing more under certain conditions.
The six-team tournament will be held at Dodger Stadium. The United States qualified as the host nation. The Dominican Republic and Venezuela also qualified during the World Baseball Classic earlier this year. The six teams will be split into two groups, with each group winner receiving a bye into the semifinals.
Players including Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Mike Trout, all of whom represented the United States in the World Baseball Classic, have expressed interest in participating. The broader collective bargaining agreement covering the 2027 MLB season remains unresolved.