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Scott Boras Fires Back in Rob Manfred Showdown

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt Graves | Last updated Jul 29, 2025 1:51 PM ET

Last week's routine Commissioner visit with the Philadelphia Phillies erupted into a full-blown confrontation.

Bryce Harper unleashed a blistering rebuke of Rob Manfred's hinted plans for a potential MLB salary cap. Sources report the exchanged kicked off when Manfred broached economic reforms during his annual tour, only for Harper to disagree wholeheartedly.

The altercation has quickly become the defining image of baseball's brewing labor war. With the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) set to expire on December 1, 2026, whispers of a strict cap on player salaries have polarized clubhouses and front offices alike. While owners argue caps could ensure greater competitive balance, many players see them as a direct attack on free-market principles.

Amid the fallout, Harper's longtime agent Scott Boras made that crystal clear to Evan Drellich and Matt Gelb of The Athletic.

"Young players need to talk with veterans like Harper,” Boras said Monday. “Harper has been fighting the consequences of caps his whole life. Harper received the potential for a total of $10.9 million, $9.9 million plus $1 million in roster bonuses, for his draft signing in 2010.

"Two years later, in 2012, a draft cap was implemented and the top-paid player in the draft, Byron Buxton, got $6 million. Fifteen drafts later, the top player is receiving $9.25 million, well below Harper. Harper knows what caps can do to players’ rights, especially young players."

Harper, who signed a 13-year, $330 million contract with Philadelphia, is exactly the kind of superstar who would be most impacted by a salary cap. If MLB proposes one, as many around the league expect, owners may pitch it as a way to help lower earners. However, the MLBPA has long argued that caps drag everyone down, not just the top 1 percent.

For Harper, that's not theory, it's lived experience. As Boras pointed out, it's why his voice is ringing loudest as baseball nears another crossroads.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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