In a recent attempt to garner support for a potential salary cap, Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Rob Manfred has been visiting clubhouses across the league. This initiative has, however, faced significant resistance from Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper. During a meeting with Manfred, Harper reportedly expressed his strong objection to the discussion of a salary cap, famously telling the commissioner to "get the f--k out of our clubhouse" if that was the topic at hand. Although Manfred did not explicitly mention a 'salary cap,' his comments regarding the economic state of MLB riled Harper.

In response to Harper's outburst, Manfred maintained his position, stating he would not leave and emphasized the importance of discussing strategies for the growth of the sport and addressing ongoing threats to the league's business. His tour visiting all 30 teams is considered a part of his regular responsibilities to maintain communication with players, but the focus of this visit has drawn increased scrutiny.

According to a report from Evan Drellich at The Athletic, Manfred has indicated he aims to utilize apparent divides within the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) to present ownership's perspective that a salary cap could be beneficial for all parties involved. He pointed out that revenue spending on players has decreased from 63 percent in 2002 to 47 percent today and claimed that the top 10 percent of players are taking home 72 percent of the total payroll, though the methodologies behind these statistics remain unclear. Separately, the MLBPA suspects that Manfred's Commissioner’s Ambassador Program, initiated in 2023 and comprising former players including Hall of Famer CC Sabathia, is an effort to undermine the union by influencing current players to endorse a salary cap. The MLBPA's deputy executive director Bruce Meyer criticized this approach, articulating concerns over former players being compensated by MLB while attempting to sway active players regarding a structure traditionally viewed as unfavorable by the union. The interaction between Manfred and Harper was described as "pretty intense, definitely passionate" by Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos. Although the meeting concluded with a handshake, Harper reportedly ignored a follow-up call from Manfred the day after. Analysts closely observing MLB believe a lockout is a likely outcome when the current collective bargaining agreement expires after the conclusion of the 2026 season, partly due to the anticipated push from owners for a salary cap. Notably, MLB stands as the only major men's sports league in North America without a salary cap, with the competitive balance tax creating additional restrictions over the years that may dissuade clubs from excessive spending. Should a lockout occur upon the expiration of the current CBA, it would mark the second significant work stoppage in MLB since the 1994-95 player strike, with the last lockout spanning 99 days from December 2, 2021, to March 10, 2022.