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**Summary:**

While announcing Wrigley Field as the 2027 All-Star Game host, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred downplayed his heated exchange with Phillies star Bryce Harper regarding the potential for a salary cap in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations. Harper reportedly told Manfred to leave the Phillies’ clubhouse if he intended to discuss a salary cap. Despite the tense moment, Manfred insists the incident isn’t indicative of a major divide between players and the league. He expressed optimism about reaching a deal before the 2026 CBA expires, potentially preventing a lockout that could jeopardize the 2027 season and the All-Star Game. Manfred highlighted his past success in avoiding work stoppages and remained confident a new agreement would be reached.

**News Article:**

**Manfred Minimizes Harper Confrontation Amid Looming Labor Tensions; Wrigley Field Set to Host 2027 All-Star Game**

**CHICAGO** – Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred addressed concerns over potential labor strife while in Chicago on Friday to announce Wrigley Field as the host of the 2027 All-Star Game. Manfred sought to downplay a recent confrontation with Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper regarding the looming collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations between the league and the MLB Players Association (MLBPA).

“I think more has been made out of this than needs to be made out of it,” Manfred stated during a press conference. The commissioner confirmed reports of a heated exchange with Harper in the Phillies’ clubhouse last month, where the star player reportedly told Manfred to “Get the f— out of our clubhouse” if he intended to discuss implementing a salary cap, a long-standing point of contention between the league and the players.

Despite the intensity of the interaction, Manfred insisted the incident was not representative of a wider divide. “It was an individual picking a particular way to express himself, and I don’t think you need to make more out of it than that,” he said. “At the end of the meeting, we shook hands and went our separate ways. Not all that significant.”

The backdrop to the confrontation is the expiration of the current CBA at the end of 2026, raising fears of a potential lockout. The MLBPA has historically opposed any system that limits player salaries, fueling speculation that the league may attempt to implement a salary cap similar to those used in the NFL, NBA, and NHL.

Manfred highlighted his track record in labor negotiations since joining the league in 1998 as evidence of his ability to reach an agreement. “We haven’t had a work stoppage that affected a season since that time,” he said. The last CBA negotiation, prior to the 2023 season, resulted in a delayed spring training, but the full 162-game regular season was ultimately played.

Should a lockout occur and extend into the summer of 2027, the All-Star Game scheduled at Wrigley Field could be impacted. In response to a question about contingency plans, Manfred stated, “My contingency plan is to make an agreement with the players and play the 2027 season.”

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