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TAMPA, Fla. — Rob Manfred has had enough fun, or so he says.
On Thursday, at the New York Yankees’ spring training complex in Tampa, Major League Baseball’s divisive commissioner offered his most open statement yet about the end of his tenure. In response to a question about his future, Manfred, 65, indicated that his next term as commissioner will be his last. After the 2028 season, there will be a new best man in baseball.
“I just started a five-year term. That’s math, right? That makes me 70 years old. You can only have so much fun in a life,” he joked to a room of media. “I have been open with (all 30 MLB franchise owners) about the fact that this will be my last term.”
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It was clear, given the nature of his comments, that Manfred did not intend for this revelation to become a major news story. After his press conference, he seemed taken aback by the attention he had just generated. This was far from a pre-planned announcement. However, Manfred’s admission Thursday was by far the most definitive timeline the commissioner has given publicly.
Last July, all 30 MLB club owners voted to extend Manfred’s contract through the 2028 season. Around that time, he told reporters, including Evan Drellich of The Athletic, who has “what I consider the best job in the world. My current thinking is that I would like to continue doing it.”
It remains to be seen if anything has changed Manfred’s mind in the last seven months or if this was always the plan or if he is using the lack of public interest as potential leverage with team owners. A lot can and will change between now and 2028, but it’s worth noting that with Manfred reportedly making around $25 million a year in his position, it’s not easy to leave a bag of cash behind.
On the possibility of a free agency deadline
While his comment about an eventual departure is grabbing headlines, that wasn’t the only notable part of Manfred’s annual spring training speech. When asked about the glacial pace of this winter’s free agent market (reigning NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Matt Chapman and Cody Bellinger are still available), Manfred pointed to the possibility of a deadline for free agency.
“We would prefer to have a free agent signing period, ideally, probably in December, with a deadline that would push people to get their deals done,” he said.
Manfred said the league has made similar proposals to the MLB Players Association, proposals that “were not well received.” (Not surprisingly, the union is averse to any kind of arbitrary deadline that could eliminate leverage and drive down prices.) While that deadline could certainly make MLB free agency a more attractive entertainment commodity, there is no obvious incentive for players or agents to do so.
About the new league jerseys
The free agent pool remains frozen, but the discussion over the new MLB uniforms is generating quite a bit of heat. Nike apparel made by Fanatics, officially called Nike Vapor Premier jerseys, looks and feels cheaper than previous versions. Additionally, with the MLB logo on the back of the uniform larger and lowered a few inches, the nameplate fonts are much, much smaller, creating a crooked, disjointed aesthetic that frustrates fans and fans alike. players.
When asked if the league is aware of the backlash, Manfred played politician.
“Well, we always pay attention to what people say about any new initiative. And with a new initiative, there will be some negative reactions,” he stated. “I think after people use them a little bit, they will be very popular.”
Lastly, Manfred’s comments about the A’s impending move from Oakland to Las Vegas are sure to irritate some. When asked by Yahoo Sports how the league plans to maintain a presence in Oakland after the A’s leave the city, Manfred pointed across the Bay.
“First of all, we have a major league team in the Bay Area,” he said. “It’s not that there isn’t an option available. The Giants obviously still play there.”
While Manfred also pointed to MLB’s community involvement and youth programming in the East Bay as evidence of the league’s commitment to the region, the implication that A’s fans should simply ditch their green and gold caps for the black and orange will surely upset Oakland fans. the wrong way.
As for where the A’s will play between the expiration of their lease at the Coliseum at the end of 2024 and Opening Day 2028? Manfred’s guess is as good as yours. Several deadlines have already passed for the organization to find a temporary home, and Manfred again insisted that plans must be finalized this summer so MLB can sufficiently prepare next season’s schedule.