Bryce Harper, star player for the Philadelphia Phillies, reportedly had a heated confrontation with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred during a meeting with the team last week.
According to ESPN, Harper grew frustrated during the meeting and told Manfred to “get the f— out of our clubhouse” when the commissioner tried to discuss the possibility of introducing a salary cap in Major League Baseball.
The Confrontation
Manfred, who holds annual meetings with all 30 MLB teams to improve his relationship with players, was present for the exchange.
While Harper remained quiet for most of the meeting, sources say his frustration grew when the topic of a salary cap was brought up. Harper, holding a bat and sitting in a chair, stood up and walked toward Manfred, saying:
“If you want to speak about that, you can get the f— out of our clubhouse.”
Manfred reportedly responded by saying, “I’m not going to get the f— out of here,” adding that it was important to discuss threats to MLB’s business and ways to grow the game.
MLB’s Push for a Salary Cap
Currently, MLB is the only major North American sport without a salary cap, unlike the NFL, NBA, and NHL. Manfred’s annual meetings with players often involve discussions about MLB’s economics, including the pay disparity between high-paid superstars and league minimum players.
Some team owners, like new Baltimore Orioles owner David Rubenstein, have spoken publicly about wanting a salary cap to address these concerns.
The collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between MLB and the players expires in December 2026, and salary cap discussions are expected to become a major point of contention during the negotiations. The MLB Players Association has long rejected a hard salary cap, and they are expected to do so again.
The Future of MLB’s Economy
In recent years, MLB’s revenues have skyrocketed, with a 33% increase over the past 10 years, reaching a record $12.1 billion in 2025. During the same period, the average MLB player salary has increased by about 18%, reaching $4.66 million in 2024.
Despite the growth in revenue, some owners argue that a salary cap is needed to address the growing disparity between the highest and lowest-paid players.
Will There Be a Lockout?
With the salary cap issue heating up, Manfred has already indicated he expects another lockout during the next round of CBA negotiations. MLB has not lost games due to a work stoppage since the 1994-95 players’ strike, but tensions between players and owners may lead to another disruption.
