CHICAGO — Whereas on the town to announce Wrigley Field as the host of the 2027 All-Star GameMLB 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 feel 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 palms and went our separate methods. Not all that important.”

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 12 months. 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 wished to speak about. Cooler heads finally prevailed, and the 2 did shake palms 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 selecting a selected technique to specific himself, and I do not assume it’s good 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 much like those the NFL, NHL and NBA use. MLB gamers, by way of union management, have at all times stood agency that they are going to by no means play underneath a system that limits salaries.

Manfred cited his report on labor since becoming a member of the league in 1998 as a purpose that he’s hopeful issues will work out earlier than MLB loses video games to a lockout.

“We have 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 report, and I feel we will do it once more.”

The final time the edges negotiated a CBA — earlier than the 2023 season — spring coaching was delayed, however all 162 regular-season video games have been performed. Many within the sport really feel that MLB will not be as fortunate this time round.

“It is pure that if 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’ll discover a deal.”

One casualty of an prolonged lockout in 2027 might be the All-Star Sport, which is scheduled to be performed at Wrigley Area 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 in the course of the summer time.

“My contingency plan is to make an settlement with the gamers and play the 2027 season,” Manfred stated.