Major League Baseball has secured owner support to let players participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics for the first time, but disagreements with the MLBPA over hotel rooms, tickets and mandatory participation have complicated the plan, sources told ESPN. Emails and documents obtained by ESPN show the dispute has spanned several months.

MLB plans to shut down the sport for 11 days to accommodate a West Coast All-Star Game ahead of a six-team Olympic tournament at Dodger Stadium. The MLBPA has resisted signing off on LA28's proposal, instead seeking terms similar to the agreement the NHL and NHLPA reached with the International Olympic Committee for the 2026 Milano Cortina Games.

Interest in Olympic participation has grown following the success of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, with the United States, Dominican Republic and champion Venezuela already qualified for the tournament.

Negotiations have touched on hotel rooms, tickets, insurance, NIL rights and a mandatory-participation agreement that would place noncompliant players on the restricted list without pay from July 12 to Aug. 3, according to a copy of the league's proposal. MLB's goal is to ensure the tournament features top stars such as Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge.

The union has objected specifically to the restricted-list provision and to commissioner Rob Manfred's proposed authority to discipline players for cause with fines or unpaid suspensions. The MLBPA has not yet submitted its own counterproposal.

Bryce Harper voiced strong support for playing in the Games.

"It's such a great opportunity for all athletes to come together in all different walks of life, all different cultures. I love it," said Harper. "I think it'd be great. I hope it works out. I grew up watching the Summer Olympics. I was in one of the greatest eras of Olympics of all time. Michael Phelps, are you kidding me? There was nothing like it."

MLBPA special adviser Ian Penny wrote in a June 26 email that the union is seeking fair treatment for players given the financial value they would bring to the Games.

"Ideally," wrote Penny, "that consideration would closely align with the value created and include direct compensation. However, what these proposals are largely designed to accomplish is to prevent our members from losing money by participating, whether due to expenses incurred or commercial rights lost, both individually and collectively."

LA28 vice president of sports Niccolo Campriani defended the league's offer in a separate email to top officials.

"We believe this package appropriately recognizes the significance of MLB players participating in the LA28 Olympic Games while balancing the many interests involved," wrote Campriani. "No league is getting more favorable terms than this."

In order to accommodate the tournament, MLB has proposed ending the first half July 9, 2028, holding the All-Star Game July 11, and running the Olympic tournament from July 13 to July 19 before resuming the regular season July 21. The league has also proposed pushing the 2028 season start back a week to March 23 rather than extending the postseason.

Each Olympic roster would include 28 players, raising concerns about the toll on major league rosters and pitcher health, concerns that have similarly limited participation in the World Baseball Classic. Harper reiterated his hope that a deal gets finalized.

"If I have an opportunity to put the American flag and USA on my chest again at the level of the Olympics, it would mean everything to me," said Harper. "I've wanted it for a long time, and I would love to be there. You're trying to grow this game internationally, and I don't think there's a better place to do that than the Olympics."