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07/15/25 01:21:00
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07/15 13:20 CDT Major League Baseball, union could let big leaguers in 2028
Olympics during extended All-Star break
Major League Baseball, union could let big leaguers in 2028 Olympics during
extended All-Star break
By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer
ATLANTA (AP) --- Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and players' union head Tony
Clark say plans are moving ahead exploring the possibility of using major
leaguers in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, a tournament that could be played on
an extended All-Star break.
"I think it is a opportunity to market the game on a really global stage,"
Manfred told the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday.
"Obviously the clubs are going to have to endorse this. I mean, this it's a big
deal."
MLB met with Los Angeles organizers Monday in Atlanta ahead of the All-Star
Game and Manfred said the Olympic officials were meeting with the Major League
Baseball Players Association.
"There's a lot of work that still needs to be done," Clark told the BBWAA in a
separate session. "We do know players are interested in playing, whether it's
for the Team USA or any number of other teams around the world. ... There's
just a lot of conversation that needs to be had sooner rather than later to see
how viable this is, but we're hopeful that we can figure our way through it for
the benefit of the game."
The World Baseball Softball Confederation said Monday the baseball tournament
will be played from July 15-20 at Dodger Stadium. MLB is considering whether it
can interrupt its 2028 season to allow major leaguers to participate, which
could necessitate changes to the sport's national television contracts.
"They put out a schedule. They tell you it's not going to move. We'll see
whether there's any movement on that," Manfred said. "It is possible to take
it, to play the All-Star Game in its normal spot, have a single break that
would be longer, obviously, but still play 162 games without bleeding into the
middle of November. That is possible, OK? It would require significant
accommodations, but it's possible."
World Baseball Softball Confederation spokesman Richard Baker declined comment.
MLB did not allow players on 40-man rosters to participate in the 2021 Tokyo
Olympics, when Nippon Professional Baseball interrupted its season and Japan
beat the U.S. 2-0 in the gold medal game.
"In the event that major league players are going to play, what does that mean
and what does that look like?" Clark said. "And perhaps just as importantly,
what does it mean for those players who aren't participating? What type of
scheduling adjustments need to be made? What type travel considerations and
support need to considered? What does that means in regards to insurance?"
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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