Major League Baseball has secured owner backing to let big‑league players compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Games, but a dispute with the MLBPA over hotel rooms, tickets and a mandatory‑participation clause has stalled progress. Emails reveal that LA28 is seeking a quick resolution while MLB plans an 11‑day shutdown to host an All‑Star Game before a six‑team tournament at Dodger Stadium. The MLBPA has stalled, demanding terms similar to the NHL/NHLPA deal that returned professional hockey to the Olympics in 2026.

With the 2026 World Baseball Classic a hit and powerhouses like the United States, Dominican Republic and Venezuela already qualified, players such as Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber want to play, but the league’s proposal would place non‑compliant players on a restricted list with no pay or service time from July 12 to Aug 3. LA28’s memorandum of understanding offered 435 additional hotel rooms and a friends‑and‑family ticket policy, but the MLBPA insists on fair compensation for the financial value players bring. Niccolò Campriani and lawyer Ian Penny highlighted that the package is “modest” and “reasonable,” while the league seeks to protect its rosters and revenue streamsדה.

The tournament will run July 13‑19, with teams of 28 players, and MLB may shift the 2028 season start to March 23 to accommodate the Games.