MLB's alleged Bryce Harper threat after Rob Manfred confrontation is chilling

Major League Baseball's alleged threat in response to Philadelphia Phillies Bryce Harper's confrontation with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in July continues to make an alarming situation even more so.

During that July meeting between the commissioner and the Phillies in their clubhouse, Harper stood nose-to-nose with Manfred and said, "If you want to speak about [a salary cap], you can get the f---out of our clubhouse," according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Following the Harper-Manfred encounter, former player Mark DeRosa, who now works for Manfred and is an analyst for MLB Network, spoke about Phillies players challenging the commissioner (subscription required), per The Athletic's Evan Drellich

"The commissioner’s a powerful guy, don’t f— around with him," DeRosa reportedly told Phillies players.

Controversy between Phillies' Bryce Harper and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred gets even more unsettling

On the Nov. 6 edition of his Agent Provocateur podcast, sports agent Allan Walsh, who primarily represents NHL players, discussed whether MLB will ever implement a salary cap. He revealed what a deputy in Manfred's office said in response to the first baseman's confrontation with the commissioner.

"Don't ever say that again to the commissioner ... That's how people end up in a ditch," was the message, according to Walsh.

Based on the comments by DeRosa and the unidentified deputy, Harper did not approach the issue in the best manner. What they said in response to Harper makes this seem like a confrontation from The Godfather or The Sopranos, with the commissioner playing the role of Michael Corleone or Tony Soprano. To put it bluntly, "Don't cross the boss."

MLB is the only North American professional sports league without a salary cap. Manfred has been adamant for some time about applying a cap to MLB, which the players would not favor.

The issue will need to be addressed, and the Commissioner's office and MLB Players Association will have to come to an agreement on the issue within the next year. It remains to be seen how or when that will occur following the heated comments made by Harper, DeRosa and the commissioner's deputy in response to the Phillies' first baseman.

The argument between the Phillies' star player and the commissioner illuminates the possibility that a lockout may ensue once the current collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, 2026. The start of the 2027 MLB season looks to be in jeopardy at this point.

If this confrontation is any indication, there are significant barriers that the league and the MLB Players Association will need to iron out regarding a salary cap to prevent a work stoppage.