MLB boss not ruling out return of second Bay Area team if expansion happens

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said nothing is off the table when it comes to potential expansion, including the return of a second MLB team to the Bay Area.

Speaking before Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Atlanta, Manfred said expansion beyond the 30 existing clubs will be an “open book,” if and when he and team owners begin those conversations.

“You know what? People who want baseball should participate in the expansion process when we start that process,” Manfred said as he met with members of the Baseball Writers’ Association 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 only MLB team left in the Bay Area, with its nearly 8 million residents, after the Athletics departed Oakland last fall for their new home in West Sacramento, following a 57-year stay at the Coliseum. Each plan to build a new local stadium for the A’s fell through, as did any hope of moving the team to San Jose, with the Giants claiming territorial rights.

The Giants’ territorial rights to the South Bay reportedly only extended to the A’s.

The A’s announced in April 2024 that they would play at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento until the end of the 2027 season before relocating to a new ballpark, scheduled to open in 2028, located next to the Las Vegas Strip.

Manfred said Tuesday that he had a positive relationship with former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf as they worked together to find a new home for the A’s in the city, with hopes that a new stadium would be constructed at Howard Terminal.

But Manfred had a different relationship with Sheng Thao, who was elected as Oakland’s mayor in 2022, recalled in November, and was indicted on federal charges 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 said. “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.”

Several Major League players have complained about the field conditions and infrastructure at Sutter Health Park, including the mound, the batter’s box, and the shorter-than-usual foul poles. The clubhouses for the A’s and visiting teams are located beyond the left field wall, and not near the dugouts.

“It’s less than ideal, to say the least,” MLB Players’ Association chief Tony Clark said of Sutter Health Park in a separate meeting with the BBWAA members in attendance.

All-Star Game in San Francisco?

Manfred and Clark say plans are moving ahead, exploring the possibility of using major leaguers in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, a tournament that could be played on an extended All-Star break.

“I think it is an opportunity to market the game on a really global stage,” Manfred said. “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 ahead of the All-Star Game and stated that Olympic officials were meeting with the MLBPA. If big leaguers are allowed to participate in the Olympics, Oracle Park would be the front runner to host that year’s All-Star Game, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Manfred mentioned Baltimore, Boston, and Toronto as possible future sites for All-Star Games.

“There’s a lot of work that still needs to be done,” Clark told 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 did not allow players on 40-man rosters to participate in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, when Nippon Professional Baseball interrupted its season and Japan beat the U.S. 2-0 in the gold medal game.

Manfred, Roberts talk Misiorowski

National League All-Star manager Dave Roberts said including Milwaukee rookie right-hander Jacob Misiorowski on his team was “an easy answer” despite complaints from some players over his inclusion after just five big league appearances.

“If it brings excitement, attention to our game, then I’m all about it,” Roberts said before Monday’s Home 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 manager added before also addressing the other side of the argument by adding, “It’s about the fans and what the fans want to see.”

Misiorowski has pitched in only five games, a record low for an All-Star, sparking a debate between those who argue the game is for the most deserving players and those who believe it is for the fans.

Manfred said Tuesday he made the decision based on “the excitement that was going to be generated, the fan interest in seeing this guy,” and adding a competitive pitcher to the game.

“He’s a very, very good pitcher on a very, very good run right now,” Manfred said. “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 instant stir when he threw a 100.5 mph fastball for his first pitch in the big leagues. Oh, and for good measure, he opened that debut on June 12 against St. Louis by throwing five no-hit innings before leaving with cramping in the Brewers’ 6-0 win.

The 6-foot-7 rookie is 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA and has 33 strikeouts with only 12 hits allowed in 25 2/3 innings. It’s an impressive debut, but some players still believe the right-hander hasn’t been in the game long enough to merit All-Star consideration over more established players.

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Rays sale

Tampa Bay, controlled by Stuart Sternberg since October 2005, said last month it had entered exclusive discussions for a sale to a group led by Patrick Zalupski, Bill Cosgrove, and Ken Babby, and The Athletic reported Monday that a sale is expected to be finalized by September.

“I have no reason to quibble with or dispute the reports that have been out there,” Manfred said.

Because of damage caused to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg last October by Hurricane Milton, the Rays are playing home games this season at Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees’ spring training facility in Tampa.

“We think we’re going to be ready 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 ready by opening day. He didn’t say what the contingency plans were.

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