The MLB Players Association has long rejected a hard salary cap and will do so again this time around. The question is whether the owners intend to dig in and hold the line, and potentially sacrifice games. MLB has not lost games to a work stoppage since the 1994-95 players' strike. Manfred has already said he anticipates another lockout.

Rob Manfred took the nothing-to-see-here approach when addressing being cursed out by Bryce Harper during a recent visit to the Phillies locker room.