According to a report on SportBusiness.com, MLB vice-president and Team USA general manager Bob Watson said this week that he doubt that commissioner Bud Selig would shut down the MLB season 2016 to give players the opportunity to play in the Olympics.
“We are not going to shut down the season, that’s the reality. Bud (MLB commissioner Bud Selig) isn’t going to do that. If they (The International Olympic Committee) want to hold that against him then they have some serious lobbying to do to move him off the position.”
This is a big speed bump for the efforts by the International Baseball Federation to bring Baseball back to the Olympic Games in eight years. Especially after Watson made indications a month ago that the MLB would be open for a break in the season, to get Major Leaguers into the Olympic tournament. This year’s event, starting on August 13 could be the last one, as the IOC kicked Baseball and Softball out for the Olympics 2012 in London.
Source: Sport Business.com
