Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has expressed growing confidence that big league players will participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Speaking before Game 2 of the World Series, Manfred noted that club owners are broadly supportive of the idea, though logistical challenges remain.
MLB did not allow players on 40-man rosters at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where Japan defeated the United States in the gold medal game. For 2028, the league has discussed creating an extended All-Star break to accommodate the Games, scheduled from 14-30 July. Any agreement would require approval from the players' association and consideration of sponsor deals.
Manfred acknowledged that participation in 2028 is likely to be a one-off, given the difficulties of staging a tournament in Brisbane for the 2032 Olympics. He said progress has been made with LA 2028 organisers on the calendar, and discussions with the players' association are ongoing.
On other matters, Manfred addressed the disparity in postseason payrolls, noting that the Los Angeles Dodgers entered as baseball's top spender this year at $509m, compared to the Miami Marlins' $69m. He dismissed suggestions that a Dodgers championship would increase the likelihood of a salary cap in future labour talks.
Manfred also confirmed that MLB is investigating Cleveland pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who were placed on paid leave as part of a sports betting probe. He emphasised the league's priority is protecting the integrity of the game, with systems in place to detect aberrational activity.
