After receiving support from MLB team owners for MLB players to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the MLB Players Association is making some demands that could impact players’ availability for the Games.
“Potential complications have arisen during negotiations, which involve a complex web of issues that include hotel rooms, tickets, insurance, NIL rights and the mandatory-participation agreement proposed by the league that would place players who run afoul of requirements on the restricted list, without pay or service time, from July 12 to Aug. 3, according to a copy of the league’s proposal obtained by ESPN,” Passan wrote.
The MLBPA reportedly wants a deal similar to the one between the International Olympic Committee, National Hockey League and NHLPA.
MLBPA Says Players Offer LA28 Financial Value
MLBPA lawyer and special adviser Ian Penny explained how MLB players offer a lot of financial value to LA28. The 2026 World Baseball Classic proved that, with MLB stars like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge participating in the tournament.
Penny said that MLB players should be fairly compensated for the financial value they offer.
“Ideally,” Penny wrote, per ESPN, “that consideration would closely align with the value created and include direct compensation. However, what these proposals are largely designed to accomplish is to prevent our members from losing money by participating, whether due to expenses incurred or commercial rights lost, both individually and collectively. Given the significant financial benefits flowing to non-athlete stakeholders in the Games, we view these proposals as particularly modest and imminently reasonable.”
Multiple MLB players have expressed a desire to compete in LA28. But for now, some more negotiations will need to be held between MLBPA and the LA28 committee.
Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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