MLB alleged threat to Bryce Harper shows how brutal lockout will be

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper has never been shy about sharing his opinions about the direction of Major League Baseball. 

Those opinions and issues with MLB leadership came to a head when commissioner Rob Manfred entered the Phillies locker room in July to discuss a salary cap. Harper reportedly became frustrated during the conversation, eventually getting in Manfred's face and telling him to "get the (expletive) out of the locker room." Manfred refused, saying it was important to discuss the threats to the game.

The meeting eventually continued, with Harper and Manfred even shaking hands afterward. While that appeared to be the end of the argument, that was not the case. Agent Allan Walsh reported during an episode of the "Agent Provocateur" that one of Manfred's "deputies" threatened Harper, saying "Don't ever disrespect him (Manfred) like that again. That's how people end up in a ditch."

Alleged threat to Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper foreshadows ugliness of impending lockout

That news comes as the current Collective Bargaining Agreement will expire on Dec. 1, 2026. Ownership is pushing for a salary cap, pointing to the Dodgers seemingly endless financial resources as bad for the future of the game. The players union, meanwhile, is adamantly against such a cap.

The last sustained push toward a salary cap came in 1994. The union's refusal to entertain such an idea led to the disastrous strike that canceled the 1994 World Series and impacted the beginning of the 1995 season. However, that labor stoppage may seem like a brief interruption compared to what could happen in 2027, with the possibility of the entire season being lost a distinct possibility.

The alleged threat to Harper could foreshadow the tone of negotiations. Relationships between the union and ownership, and Manfred in particular, are frosty at best. If this threat is true, the next labor stoppage could get ugly fast.