Latest On 2028 Olympics Negotiations

Key Points:

• Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association are discussing involving MLB players in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, but a formal agreement is required to finalize participation.
• MLB has proposed mandatory participation for selected players, with penalties including fines and a three-week restricted list stint if they decline, a move that MLBPA executive director Bruce Meyer has called "extreme."
• The league plans to pause regular season play after July 9, 2028, holding the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game on July 10-11, with the Olympic baseball tournament scheduled for July 13-19.
• Six teams will compete in the Olympic baseball event, including the U.S. (host), Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic, with three additional teams to qualify through future tournaments.
• Key challenges include negotiating player participation terms, insurance issues, and balancing the MLB schedule, as no MLB players have previously competed in the Olympics due to roster restrictions and scheduling conflicts.