The participation of baseball players from Major League Baseball in Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Baseball is in doubt due to labor negotiations between MLB and the players’ union, which could lead to a strike in 2027.
The possibility of seeing the stars of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the Olympics of Los Angeles 2028 could be frustrated if the labor conflict between the league and the players’ union ends up affecting the 2027 season.
The current collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) expires on December 1, 2026, and negotiations for a new agreement would begin between April and May of that same year. However, the owners are expected to declare a lockout on December 2, 2026 if an agreement is not reached.
Bruce Meyer, interim director of the players’ union, warned that a strike that causes the cancellation of games in 2027 could have direct consequences on the participation of Major League players in the Olympic tournament.
“If we don’t have a season in 2027, we’re not going to play in the Olympic Games,” Meyer said during the World Baseball Classic.
The plan for baseball in Los Angeles 2028
Baseball will return to the Olympic program in Los Angeles 2028 with a six-team tournament, which will be played at Dodger Stadium from July 13 to 19, coinciding with an extended break of the MLB All-Star Game.
So far they have secured their place:
United States (host)
Dominican Republic
Venezuela
The other three spots will be defined through the WBSC Premier12 tournament and continental championships, in addition to a final qualifier scheduled for March 2028.
Details still to be resolved
Despite MLB’s interest in having its players participate in the event, there are still several logistical and financial aspects to be defined between the league, the union, the International Olympic Committee and the World Baseball and Softball Confederation.
Among the pending issues are insurance for players, transportation, security and accommodation during the tournament.
Another key point is accommodation, since Major League players, who during the regular season travel in first class and stay in hotels, would hardly accept staying in the traditional Olympic villages.
MLB has not lost regular season games due to a labor dispute since 1995, when the historic strike that marked one of the biggest crises in the history of professional baseball ended.
