MLB still undecided on player involvement in LA28

MLB is “still thinking about” whether its players will participate in the 2028 L.A. Games, according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. The NFL has already said yes to allow its players to participate in flag football’s debut, but if MLB agrees to let its players participate, “hardly anyone will care about flag football.” MLBPA Exec Dir Tony Clark said that the union has had “encouraging informal conversations” with LA28 officials. What Clark would like to see from MLB is an “actual plan -- all the logistics for all the players.” Logistics aside, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred “needs to convince owners -- his bosses -- that interrupting the regular season is worth it.” LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman said that the Olympic baseball tournament would “cover six days at Dodger Stadium, with a six-team field.” With baseball at the Games taking place in L.A. over a week, MLB could “kill the All-Star Game for a year, and start the regular season three days early, or finish it three days late.” However, the league would need to “compensate Fox” if it skips the 2028 All-Star Game to accommodate the Olympics (L.A. TIMES, 7/13).