Rob Manfred, amid MLB labor talks, says 'we want to play' in '27

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, amid uncertainty about whether ongoing labor negotiations will affect the 2027 season, on Sunday said that "we're planning on playing baseball next year."

As MLB owners and the MLB Players Association continue negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement -- the current CBA expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1 -- there are a lot of questions facing the sport, including the possibility of a work stoppage.

"We're meeting regularly, which is good," Manfred told ESPN during the Little League Classic about the labor talks. "Every week, we've had days where we've met with the players. It's early, but we've got a lot of work to do, and we're at it.

"Look, our goal is to make a deal. We want to make a deal. We want to play baseball next year. We're planning on playing baseball next year."

The owners' main goal in negotiations is to seek some form of a salary cap system. The MLBPA, while arguing that overhauling the economic system is unnecessary, would like increases to the minimum salary, lesser restrictions to the luxury tax threshold and further enhancements to the pre-arbitration bonus pool.

Service time, the international draft and TV revenue are other sticking points between the two sides.

If the sides can negotiate a new CBA before the deadline, baseball will continue to operate as normal. If they cannot, the owners and players could keep negotiating for a new agreement while the business of the sport operates under the rules of the old CBA. The more likely scenario, however, would be for MLB owners to lock out the players right away, shutting down all league business until a new agreement is reached.

Manfred said during the broadcast that the Toronto Blue Jays and the Chicago Cubs would play in next year's iteration of the Little League Classic on Aug. 23 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

"Look, I love this event," Manfred said. "We feel comfortable coming back every year because there's something fresh every year. The kids, and the interaction between our players and the kids -- just really fantastic."