Overview
- Bryce Harper said the World Baseball Classic is "great, but it’s not the Olympics" and urged the next CBA to include a two-week midseason break so major leaguers can compete at Los Angeles 2028.
- MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has said he senses momentum toward MLB participation in LA 2028, and union executive Bruce Meyer has confirmed that discussions have begun.
- The current collective bargaining agreement expires December 1, placing Olympic eligibility and a potential in-season pause on the bargaining agenda for owners and the MLBPA.
- The LA Games are scheduled for July 14–30, 2028, directly overlapping MLB’s regular season, and active major leaguers have historically been barred from Olympic baseball.
- Logistical hurdles cited by players and clubs include insurance, injury risk and pitching workload management, with recent examples such as Jose Altuve’s 2023 WBC injury and Jeremy Peña’s spring setback underscoring the concerns.