MLB players, owners at odds over potential Olympic participation, including punishment for declining: report

Paul Skenes stops by the MLB on FOX set pregame to discuss the impact of playing for the United States ahead of the World Baseball Classic final vs. Venezuela and the energy in the locker room, including sporting Team USA Hockey jerseys pregame.

As the 2027 MLB season remains in limbo due to the ongoing collective bargaining agreement, an issue two years from now is also 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 plenty of wrinkles.

While the owners are already set to shut down 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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Aaron Judge of Team United States reacts after the sixth inning during the World Baseball Classic semifinals game against the Dominican Republic at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 15, 2026. (Gene Wang/Capture At Media/Getty Images)

The latter proposal, ESPN said, aims to force some of the game's biggest stars to play in the Olympics, and if someone declined, they could be placed on the restricted list for nearly a month and not get paid.

The MLB Players Association, according to the report, strongly opposes the idea, saying that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred would be able to discipline players "for just cause."

Ian Penny, a special advisor at the MLBPA, said in an email last month that the organization is "seeking fair treatment for its members in consideration for the substantial financial value they would bring to LA28."

"Ideally, that consideration would closely align with the value created and include direct compensation.