MLB owners support sending players to the Olympics for the first time in 2028, but it may not happen because of several issues with the players’ union, including a “mandatory participation agreement” sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN in a report posted Tuesday.

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The 2028 Games will be held in Los Angeles and the league plans to shut down baseball for 11 days to play an All-Star Game on the West Coast followed by a six-team Olympic tournament at Dodger Stadium, per Passan.
Three teams have already qualified—the United States, the Dominican Republic and World Baseball Classic champion Venezuela. A qualifying tournament will be held in November 2027 to determine the other three spots, with Japan a heavy favorite to take one slot. The success of this year’s WBC got more players interested in playing in the Olympics.
But negotiations between owners and the union have run into issues, including whether players who don’t participate could end up on the restricted list, which would force them to go unpaid from July 12 to Aug. 3, and lose service time, according to a copy of the league’s proposal obtained by Passan.
The league wants to mandate participation so its biggest stars play in the games. The union doesn’t think participation should be mandatory and also takes issue with a clause in the agreement that would give Commissioner Rob Manfred the ability “to discipline for just cause” with a “fine and/or unpaid suspension.”
The union has not submitted a counter proposal to owners to address participation, sources told ESPN. The league and union are also at odds over hotel room and ticket allotments.
The tournament format, previously announced, would have MLB end the first half on July 9, hold the Home Run Derby on July 10, the All-Star Game on July 11 and the Olympic tournament would run from July 13-19. The regular season would resume on July 21.
“It’s such a great opportunity for all athletes to come together in all different walks of life, all different cultures. I love it,” Bryce Harper told ESPN. “I think it’d be great. I hope it works out. I grew up watching the Summer Olympics. I was in one of the greatest eras of Olympics of all time. Michael Phelps – are you kidding me? There was nothing like it. Our women’s swim team was incredible. Gymnastics floor. It’s everything. You got it all.”





