Overview

• Bryce Harper told Manfred to “get the f*** out” of the Phillies clubhouse over salary cap discussions, though both later shook hands on the same day.
• Rob Manfred dismissed the incident as overblown, saying Harper simply expressed his views and nothing more significant occurred.
• Manfred and team owners have revived calls for a salary cap to address widening payroll disparities before negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement begin.
• The MLB Players Association has vowed to oppose any wage-limiting system, warning that a cap proposal could trigger a work stoppage after the 2026 season.
• Manfred expressed confidence in avoiding a lockout by citing his history of successful negotiations and outlining plans to strike a deal for the 2027 season.