Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, right, speaks during a new baseball stadium news conference as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis looks, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, at Hillsborough College in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is optimistic that major leaguers will play in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Manfred, speaking following an owners meeting Thursday, said there are still issues to resolve with the Major League Baseball Players Association before those Olympic aspirations are a reality, but “I think we’re a lot closer to there than we were the last time we talked about it,” he said.

The six-nation baseball tournament will be played from July 13-19 at Dodger Stadium. MLB is planning for an extended All-Star break between July 9 and July 21, with the All-Star Game likely at San Francisco on July 11.

An agreement with the union is needed.

“I sense a lot of momentum towards playing in LA in 2028,” Manfred said. “I think we are going to get over those issues. I think people have come to appreciate that the Olympics on U.S. soil is a unique marketing opportunity for the game. I think we had a lot of players interested in doing it and, you know, I feel pretty good about the idea (that) we’ll get there.”

In addition, an agreement is needed on insurance to cover player contracts for time with Olympic teams.

The United States will have an automatic berth in the both the baseball and softball tournaments and the top two other nations from the Americas in next month’s World Baseball Classic will earn berths.

Officially gone

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Philadelphia Phillies released outfielder Nick Castellanos on Thursday after the team was unable to make a deal to trade him.

Castellanos then revealed he was benched last season after bringing beer into the dugout during a game. The team wanted the situation resolved before its first full-squad workout at spring training, which is this Monday.

Castellanos, who turns 34 on March 4, hit .250 with 17 homers and 72 RBIs in 147 games for the NL East champions last year.

Ex-Texas Ranger Adolis Garcia is expected to replace Castellanos in right field after he signed a $10 million, one-year contract with Philadelphia in December.

Wounded Yankee

TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler is managing back inflammation and a lat problem, and he is easing off bullpen work.

Manager Aaron Boone calls it minor and says a test brought good news. Schlittler says he has felt it for a few weeks and wants to stay on track for opening day. Boone says the team plans to keep him off the mound for a few days, but he keeps throwing.

The Yankees already expect to open without Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon. Schlittler broke in last season and looks set to stay in the rotation.