New union head says 2027 MLB work stoppage could disrupt plans for big leaguers at 2028 Olympics

New union head says 2027 MLB work stoppage could disrupt plans for big leaguers at 2028 Olympics A work stoppage that leads to canceled games during the 2027 Major League Baseball season could disrupt plans under discussion to have big league players participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics By RONALD BLUM AP baseball writer March 15, 2026, 7:59 PM MIAMI -- A work stoppage that leads to canceled games during the 2027 Major League Baseball season could disrupt plans under discussion to have big league players participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The Major League Baseball Players Association is negotiating with Major League Baseball, the IOC, the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the World Baseball Softball Confederation on the six-nation baseball event , scheduled for Dodger Stadium from July 15-20 during what could be an extended All-Star break. MLB and the union also are preparing for the start of bargaining in April or May for a labor contract to replaced the current five-year agreement that expires Dec. 1. A management lockout is expected to start Dec. 2. “It can be on a separate track, but I’m sure it will come up in the course of negotiations,” new acting union head Bruce Meyer said Sunday night at the World Baseball Classic. "If we’re in a situation where games are being missed in '27, that could have an impact on playing the Olympics after that." Meyer said a lost 2027 season would eliminate big leaguers from the 2028 Olympics. “If we don’t have a season, we’re not going to play in the Olympics,” he said. MLB has not lost regular-season games due to a labor dispute since 1995. Insurance and player accommodations remain issues that must be resolved for MLB players to appear at the Olympics. At the WBC, costs are split proportionally among the shareholders — MLB and the union have equal stakes that are the most, and the WBSC, Nippon Professional Baseball and the Korea Baseball Organization also own minori...