Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred mentioned nothing is off the desk on the subject of potential enlargement, together with the return of a second MLB group to the Bay Space.
Talking earlier than Tuesday’s All-Star Recreation in Atlanta, Manfred mentioned enlargement past the 30 current golf equipment shall be an “open book,” if and when he and group homeowners start these conversations.
“You know what? People who want baseball should participate in the expansion process when we start that process,” Manfred mentioned as he met with members of the Baseball Writers’ Affiliation of America. “And I think by being wide open, with no predeterminations as to where it’s going, we’re going to end up with the best locations if we want to expand.”
The Giants are the one MLB group left within the Bay Space, with its practically 8 million residents, after the Athletics departed Oakland final fall for his or her new house in West Sacramento, following a 57-year keep on the Coliseum. Every plan to construct a brand new native stadium for the A’s fell via, as did any hope of shifting the group to San Jose, with the Giants claiming territorial rights.
The Giants’ territorial rights to the South Bay reportedly solely prolonged to the A’s.
The A’s introduced in April 2024 that they’d play at Sutter Well being Park in Sacramento till the tip of the 2027 season earlier than relocating to a brand new ballpark, scheduled to open in 2028, situated subsequent to the Las Vegas Strip.
Manfred mentioned Tuesday that he had a constructive relationship with former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf as they labored collectively to discover a new house for the A’s within the metropolis, with hopes {that a} new stadium could be constructed at Howard Terminal.
However Manfred had a distinct relationship with Sheng Thao, who was elected as Oakland’s mayor in 2022, recalled in November, and was indicted on federal costs in January. Barbara Lee was elected Oakland’s new mayor in April.
“I had worked very hard with (Schaaf) to try to make it work in Oakland. I don’t have any problem with any government official in Oakland,” Manfred mentioned. “I thought Mayor Thao was not particularly helpful when we got down to brass tacks, but I don’t think I’m going to have to deal with her going forward.”
A number of Main League gamers have complained in regards to the discipline situations and infrastructure at Sutter Well being Park, together with the mound, the batter’s field, and the shorter-than-usual foul poles. The clubhouses for the A’s and visiting groups are situated past the left discipline wall, and never close to the dugouts.
“It’s less than ideal, to say the least,” MLB Gamers’ Affiliation chief Tony Clark mentioned of Sutter Well being Park in a separate assembly with the BBWAA members in attendance.
All-Star Recreation in San Francisco?
Manfred and Clark say plans are shifting forward, exploring the potential of utilizing main leaguers within the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, a event that could possibly be performed on an prolonged All-Star break.
“I think it is an opportunity to market the game on a really global stage,” Manfred mentioned. “Obviously, the clubs are going to have to endorse this. I mean, it’s a big deal.”
MLB met with Los Angeles organizers on Monday in Atlanta forward of the All-Star Recreation and said that Olympic officers have been assembly with the MLBPA. If large leaguers are allowed to take part within the Olympics, Oracle Park could be the entrance runner to host that 12 months’s All-Star Recreation, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Manfred talked about Baltimore, Boston, and Toronto as potential future websites for All-Star Video games.
“There’s a lot of work that still needs to be done,” Clark informed the BBWAA in a separate session. “We do know players are interested in playing, whether it’s for the Team USA or any number of other teams around the world. … There’s just a lot of conversation that needs to be had sooner rather than later to see how viable this is, but we’re hopeful that we can figure our way through it for the benefit of the game.”
MLB didn’t enable gamers on 40-man rosters to take part within the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, when Nippon Skilled Baseball interrupted its season and Japan beat the U.S. 2-0 within the gold medal sport.
Manfred, Roberts discuss Misiorowski
Nationwide League All-Star supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned together with Milwaukee rookie right-hander Jacob Misiorowski on his group was “an easy answer” regardless of complaints from some gamers over his inclusion after simply 5 large league appearances.
“If it brings excitement, attention to our game, then I’m all about it,” Roberts mentioned earlier than Monday’s House Run Derby.
“I think for me, kind of my North Star is the All-Star Game should be the game’s best players,” the Los Angeles Dodgers supervisor added earlier than additionally addressing the opposite aspect of the argument by including, “It’s about the fans and what the fans want to see.”
Misiorowski has pitched in solely 5 video games, a report low for an All-Star, sparking a debate between those that argue the sport is for essentially the most deserving gamers and those that imagine it’s for the followers.
Manfred mentioned Tuesday he made the choice primarily based on “the excitement that was going to be generated, the fan interest in seeing this guy,” and including a aggressive pitcher to the sport.
“He’s a very, very good pitcher on a very, very good run right now,” Manfred mentioned. “Do I understand five starts is short? Yeah, I do. And do I want to make that the norm? No, I don’t. But I think it was the right decision given where we were.”
The 23-year-old created an immediate stir when he threw a 100.5 mph fastball for his first pitch within the large leagues. Oh, and for good measure, he opened that debut on June 12 towards St. Louis by throwing 5 no-hit innings earlier than leaving with cramping within the Brewers’ 6-0 win.
The 6-foot-7 rookie is 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA and has 33 strikeouts with solely 12 hits allowed in 25 2/3 innings. It’s a formidable debut, however some gamers nonetheless imagine the right-hander hasn’t been within the sport lengthy sufficient to advantage All-Star consideration over extra established gamers.
Rays sale
Tampa Bay, managed by Stuart Sternberg since October 2005, mentioned final month it had entered unique discussions for a sale to a gaggle led by Patrick Zalupski, Invoice Cosgrove, and Ken Babby, and The Athletic reported Monday {that a} sale is predicted to be finalized by September.
“I have no reason to quibble with or dispute the reports that have been out there,” Manfred mentioned.
Due to injury prompted to Tropicana Area in St. Petersburg final October by Hurricane Milton, the Rays are enjoying house video games this season at Steinbrenner Area, the New York Yankees’ spring coaching facility in Tampa.
“We expect we’re going to be able to play in ‘26 in the Trop,” Manfred said, adding that there are contingency plans to start the season elsewhere before moving to Tropicana Field later in the year if the stadium isn’t prepared by opening day. He didn’t say what the contingency plans have been.
Initially Printed: July 15, 2025 at 5:31 PM PDT
