Report: Harper, Manfred got heated over salary cap

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper told Rob Manfred to "get the f--k out of our clubhouse" if the MLB commissioner wanted to talk about a potential salary cap during a meeting with the team last week, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Harper reportedly became frustrated when Manfred talked about the business of baseball, although the commissioner never explicitly mentioned a salary cap.

The two-time NL MVP said players "are not scared to lose 162 games" if MLB attempts to implement a salary cap in the next collective bargaining agreement and stood nose to nose with Manfred at one point, sources told Passan.

Manfred reportedly responded that he was "not going to get the f--k out of here" because it was crucial to talk about the league's issues.

Nick Castellanos tried to defuse the situation, and Harper and Manfred later shook hands, but Harper declined to take phone calls from the commissioner the following day, sources told Passan.

Castellanos described the exchange as "pretty intense, definitely passionate."

The outfielder added, "Rob seems to be in a pretty desperate place on how important it is to get this salary cap because he's floating the word lockout two years in advance of our collective bargaining agreement (expiration). That's nothing to throw around. That's the same thing as me saying in a marriage, 'I think divorce is a possibility. It's probably going to happen.' You don't just say those things."

Manfred meets with each of MLB's 30 clubs every year in an effort to improve relations with players.

Several team owners are pushing for a salary cap, but the MLB Players Association strongly opposes it, which could lead to a work stoppage when the current CBA expires Dec. 1, 2026.