Manfred Optimistic MLB Players Will Play 2028 Olympics

Commissioner Rob Manfred said he is increasingly confident Major League Baseball players will be able to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after progress in talks with LA28 and MLB stakeholders. MLB and LA28 have made calendar progress and are discussing options such as an extended All‑Star break or moving All‑Star events to the West Coast to reduce travel, but any plan requires agreement with the MLB Players Association and could affect sponsor and broadcast deals. Manfred noted the LA tournament is expected to be compressed and said past precedent — MLB did not allow 40‑man roster players at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics — and logistical challenges mean participation may be a one‑off, with even greater difficulty sending players to Brisbane in 2032. He made the remarks ahead of Game 2 of the 2025 World Series in Toronto and framed them amid broader labor and scheduling tensions as the current collective‑bargaining agreement approaches its 2026 expiry. Manfred reiterated that the World Baseball Classic remains MLB’s centerpiece for international competition and that details will not be finalized until talks with the players’ union and other stakeholders conclude.