The heated discussion between Bryce Harper and Rob Manfred is alleged to have been followed by a threat to Harper:
Those details from ESPN were the only details on the altercation until a new report from sports agent Allan Walsh. During an appearance on “Agent Provocateur,” Walsh reported that, later, a “deputy” of Manfred’s allegedly threatened Harper.
“Don’t ever say that again to the commissioner,” Walsh said, quoting what was allegedly said to Harper. “Don’t ever disrespect him again publicly like that. That’s how people end up in a ditch.”
Newsweek.com
The podcast is here, and you need an Apple ID to hear it. The Harper discussion happens at about the 19 minute mark. When I first read the story, I thought Walsh was sent at a later date to talk to Harper, but all this happened in the same clubhouse incident, and from the story the agent tells, Manfred was in the discussion. The agent makes it clear that he didn’t hear this directly from one of the principals, but from player(s) in the room. So until we hear from Harper and Manfred, take this with a huge grain of salt.
I understand what upset Walsh. Let’s go back to the early 1900s when the American League saved major league baseball by rejecting the violent cheating and intimidation rampant in the National League at the time, especially toward umpires. The success of the AL forced the NL to adopt the clean game as well, and the prohibition on intimidation of umpires continues to this day, to the point that if a player or coach touches an umpire during an argument they likely get suspended.
Like him or not, Manfred is the ultimate umpire of the game, and is given great power to discipline players. Harper tried to intimidate him, and to Manfred’s credit, he stood up to Harper. I suspect, whatever Walsh may have said, he meant that the intimidation of the commissioner won’t be tolerated, and if it continued Harper could be suspended. I believe any commissioner would need to do that.
Whatever actually happened, the point of the story is that the next CBA negotiation will be contentious over this issue, because the players will never accept a salary cap. Please remember, however:
- Baseball is always on the edge of extinction due to the next CBA negotiation, no matter how far away it is.
- If the issues are not settled months before the deadline they will never be settled.
- The owners are evil, greedy people.
- MLB has not lost a game to a work stoppage since 1995.
Manfred gets a lot of credit for the last point, as he negotiated every CBA since that strike. Note the brilliance of the salary cap position. By putting the salary cap on the table early, Manfred is controlling the negotiation, and the MLBPA is playing defense. They are in the position of stopping the salary cap, rather than pushing their agenda.
The MLBPA should have done was adopt an extreme position right after the conclusion of the last CBA. Unlimited free agency or a $5 million minimum salary or reducing the free agency clock to four years and starting that clock in the minor leagues. In other words, they should have put MLB on the defensive.
Instead, the players will make concessions to avoid the cap. They will think they won when the cap is not implemented, but it will come at a cost.