MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has been far from popular as the major don of America's pastime, with his agenda on the pitch clock, universal DH and ghost extra-innings runner being viewed as polarizing. Manfred's new dilemma, based on external pressures, is whether to instate a salary cap, as MLB is the only one of the four major American sports to not have a ceiling on a team's spending. The disparity between large/small media markets in baseball has led to mounting tension, especially with a December 2026 deadline on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the MLB and the Players' Association.
Concerns Over Rob Manfred's Popularity Mount After Heated Dispute With Phillies' Bryce Harper originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has been far from popular as the major don of America's pastime, with his agenda on the pitch clock, universal DH and ghost extra-innings runner being viewed as polarizing.
Manfred's new dilemma, based on external pressures, is whether to instate a salary cap, as MLB is the only one of the four major American sports to not have a ceiling on a team's spending.
The disparity between large/small media markets in baseball has led to mounting tension, especially with a December 2026 deadline on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the MLB and the Players' Association.
Those tensions reportedly reached a head when Rob Manfred visited the Philadelphia Phillies as part of his efforts to talk to all 30 teams about his plans for the league.
According to an exclusive report by the New York Post's Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman, Phillies star first basemen Bryce Harper shouted profanities at Manfred and told him to "get the f*ck out of our clubhouse" if Manfred were to speak about the implementation of a salary cap.
Harper, whose contract is a primary example of how the non-capped team salary benefits players, is rated among the most influential players in the league.
The issue of a salary cap feels pressing as teams like the Yankees, Dodgers and Mets continue to expand the goalposts on spending while teams like the Athletics, Rays and Marlins are increasingly forced to get creative with low budgets.
On the other hand, a 162-game season is a mentally and physically grueling task, and players like Harper clearly think that a salary cap might put a damper on the compensation they feel is deserved.
Manfred has a decision to make -- will he pursue over the next year what will likely be a highly unpopular agenda item, or will he look to discourage the kind of monopolization of spending in other ways, including strengthening the consequences of surpassing the luxury tax threshold?
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Baseball
