Phillies star Bryce Harper cusses out Rob Manfred in clubhouse meeting

USA Today

4 days ago

Two-time National League MVP Bryce Harper cussed out MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in a recent encounter in the Philadelphia Phillies' clubhouse, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Monday.
According to the report, Harper stood "nose to nose" with Manfred, telling him to "get the (expletive) out of our clubhouse" if the commissioner wanted to talk about the potential addition of a salary cap.
Manfred was conducting one of his annual meetings with each MLB team, which resulted in tension with one of the sport's brightest stars. ESPN reported Manfred never explicitly mentioned a salary cap, however, discussions of MLB's economics frustrated Harper.
The tensions come as MLB and the MLB Players Association's collective-bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, 2026. MLB owners and personnel alike have clamored for a salary cap implementation, as the league is the lone professional sport without one in North America.
ESPN added the MLBPA overwhelmingly opposes a salary cap.
According to the report, Harper said if MLB were to propose a salary cap, players "are not scared to lose 162 games." After Harper stood up to Manfred, who was standing in the middle of the room, Manfred said he was "not going to get the (expletive) out of here."
Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos attempted to defuse the situation, according to the report. Harper and Manfred shook hands after the meeting, although Harper declined a phone call from Manfred the next day.
"It was pretty intense, definitely passionate," Castellanos told ESPN. "Both of 'em. The commissioner giving it back to Bryce and Bryce giving it back to the commissioner. That's Harp. He's been doing this since he was 15 years old. It's just another day. I wasn't surprised."
Harper and Manfred both declined to comment to ESPN.
The current CBA, which was agreed upon in 2022, ended a 99-day lockout as the two sides negotiated terms. A potential salary cap implementation is one of the biggest current talking points of the next deal, which will be needed ahead of the 2027 season.
"(Manfred) seems to be in a pretty desperate place on how important it is to get this salary cap because he's floating the word 'lockout' two years in advance of our collective bargaining agreement (expiration)," Castellanos told ESPN. "That's nothing to throw around. That's the same thing as me saying in a marriage, 'I think divorce is a possibility. It's probably going to happen.' You don't just say those things."