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With the 2027 MLB season remaining in limbo due to the ongoing collective bargaining agreement, an issue two years from now will also be at the forefront.
According to ESPN, owners have supported the idea of MLB players participating in the Olympics for the first time, but not without many wrinkles.
While the owners are already willing to suspend the season for nearly two weeks, there are disagreements over logistics, including hotels, tickets and a mandatory participation agreement, the outlet said.
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Team USA’s Aaron Judge reacts after the sixth inning during the World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the Dominican Republic at Loan Depot Park in Miami, Florida, on March 15, 2026. (Gene Wang/Media Capture/Getty Images)
The latest proposal, ESPN said, is aimed at forcing some of the game’s biggest stars to play in the Olympics, and if someone refuses, they could be placed on the restricted list for nearly a month and not receive pay.
The MLB Players Association, according to the report, strongly opposes the idea, saying MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred could discipline players “for just cause.”
Ian Penny, special counsel to the MLBPA, said in an email last month that the organization is “seeking fair treatment for its members in consideration of the substantial financial value they would bring to LA28.”
“Ideally, that consideration would be closely aligned with the value created and include direct compensation. However, what these proposals are largely designed to achieve is to prevent our members from losing money by participating, whether due to expenses incurred or loss of commercial rights, both individually and collectively. Given the significant financial benefits flowing to non-athlete stakeholders in the Games, we consider these proposals to be particularly modest and imminently reasonable,” Penny added.
Team Japan celebrates after the end of the World Baseball Classic Championship defeating Team USA 3-2 at LoanDepot Park on March 21, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
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Many players, including Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Mike Trout, all of whom have represented the United States in the WBC, have expressed strong interest in playing in the Olympics.
It also remains to be seen who would stay if the deal goes through. The LA28 committee has also told players that they can purchase two tickets per match they participate in, but could “unlock” the ability to purchase more.
The LA28 committee has offered 435 hotel rooms, while Major League Baseball has already reserved 200: 100 for its own players and another 100 for the Japanese national team, which is expected to qualify late next year. ESPN cited four players who said they would stay in the Olympic Village on the UCLA campus, while the hotel rooms would be for their families.
The six-team Olympic baseball tournament will be held at Dodger Stadium. The United States has already qualified as the host nation, while the Dominican Republic and Venezuela qualified during the World Baseball Classic earlier this year.
Aaron Judge of Team USA with his teammates before a game against Team Venezuela at CreditDepot Park in Miami, Florida, on March 17, 2026. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
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The six teams will be divided into two groups and the winner of each will receive a direct pass to the semifinals. The league would shut down for 11 days to accommodate the tournament and the preceding All-Star Game.
The United States has played in three consecutive WBC finals, winning in 2017 over Puerto Rico but losing in 2023 to Japan and this year to Venezuela.
