Inside The Phillies

Phillies Star Bryce Harper Explodes on MLB Commissioner During Clubhouse Meeting

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper took exception to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred's presence in their locker room, using expletives after things got heated.
Dylan Sanders|
Jul 22, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Bryce Harper (3) looks on against the Boston Red Sox in the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park.
Jul 22, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Bryce Harper (3) looks on against the Boston Red Sox in the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park. | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

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The Philadelphia Phillies recently hosted MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in their clubhouse for a meeting and things got heated, leading to Bryce Harper and Manfred getting face-to-face.

ESPN insider Jeff Passan reported on Monday that Harper told Manfred to "get the (expletive) out of out clubhouse" if the commissioner wanted to discuss the potential of a salary cap. It was also reported that Manfred never explicitly said the words "salary cap," but it was an economic discussion that raised tensions.

Manfred stood his ground in the face of Harper, stating that he was "not going to get the (expletive) out of here." The discussion then continued after fellow Phillies star Nick Castellanos got the meeting back on track.

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Harper has always been one of the more passionate players in baseball since becoming a star as a teenager. The eight-time All-Star has never shied away from showing emotion, and this was another version of that.

It is one of the first times that it has been regarding the state of the baseball industry, however.

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The prospect of a salary cap has been one that has been floated around a lot by those outside of the sport in recent years as concerns over the parity of the league have grown.

This past offseason, after the Los Angeles Dodgers continued to spend more money and sign a number of high-profile players, the sentiment reached new heights.

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Philadelphia would be one of the teams hit the hardest by a potential salary cap, as they have the fourth-highest total payroll in MLB, per Spotrac.

Their $286 million payroll is over $100 million above the league average.

For more Phillies news, head over to Phillies On SI.

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Dylan Sanders
DYLAN SANDERS

Dylan Sanders graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree from the Manship School of Mass Communication in 2023. He was born in raised in Baton Rouge, LA but has also lived in Buffalo, NY. Though he is a recent graduate, he has been writing about sports since he was in high school, covering different sports from baseball to football. While in college, he wrote for the school paper The Reveille and for 247Sports. He was able cover championships in football, baseball and women's basketball during his time at LSU. He has also spent a few years covering the NFL draft and every day activities of the New Orleans Saints. He is a Senior Writer at Inside the Marlins and will also be found across Sports Illustrated's baseball sites as a contributing writer. You can follow him on Twitter or Instagram @dillysanders

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