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Jesse Rogers
CHICAGO — Whereas on the town to announce Wrigley Field as the host of the 2027 All-Star Game, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred downplayed his recent confrontation with Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper over the looming labor battle between the league and its gamers.
“I believe extra has been made out of this than must be made out of it,” Manfred stated Friday morning. “Bryce expressed his views. On the finish of the assembly, we shook fingers and went our separate methods. Not all that vital.”
Manfred has frolicked speaking on to gamers over the previous couple of seasons forward of the expiration of the collective bargaining settlement on the finish of subsequent yr. Whereas within the Phillies’ clubhouse final month, Harper confronted Manfred relating to the potential for a wage cap because the league and the MLBPA get set to barter a brand new deal.
“Get the f— out of our clubhouse,” Harper informed Manfred if a wage cap is what he needed to speak about. Cooler heads ultimately prevailed, and the 2 did shake fingers on the finish of the assembly.
Manfred was requested if the confrontation was an instance of the divide between the gamers and the league forward of negotiations.
“It was a person choosing a specific technique to specific himself, and I do not suppose you want to make extra out of it than that,” Manfred responded.
There was rising concern from all sides that the league will lock out the gamers after the 2026 season in hopes of putting in a wage cap just like those the NFL, NHL and NBA use. MLB gamers, through union management, have at all times stood agency that they’ll by no means play underneath a system that limits salaries.
Manfred cited his document on labor since becoming a member of the league in 1998 as a motive that he’s hopeful issues will work out earlier than MLB loses video games to a lockout.
“We’ve not had a piece stoppage that affected a season since that point,” Manfred stated. “Three of these offers I used to be chief negotiator; two of them I used to be a commissioner. That is a fairly good document, and I believe we will do it once more.”
The final time the perimeters negotiated a CBA — earlier than the 2023 season — spring coaching was delayed, however all 162 regular-season video games had been performed. Many within the recreation really feel that MLB will not be as fortunate this time round.
“It is pure that once you get to the tip of a collective bargaining settlement, people who find themselves ‘glass half full’ individuals have trepidation about what is going on to occur,” Manfred stated. “I am optimistic we will discover a deal.”
One casualty of an prolonged lockout in 2027 may very well be the All-Star Recreation, which is scheduled to be performed at Wrigley Discipline for the primary time since 1990. Manfred was requested what his contingency plan is for the sport if a lockout exists and there’s no baseball through the summer season.
“My contingency plan is to make an settlement with the gamers and play the 2027 season,” Manfred stated.