On Wednesday, Major League Baseball voted to extend commissioner Rob Manfred’s contract for 4 years, which will keep him in that position through January 2029. The 64-year-old Manfred had one more season remaining on his previous contract; his latest extension is his second.
Seattle Mariners chairman John Stanton, who chaired the meeting that approved Manfred’s extension, wrote in a statement: “At a critical moment in the history of our game, Commissioner Manfred has listened to our fans and worked closely with our players to improve America’s pastime. Under his leadership, we have been responsive to the fans’ desire for more action and better pace, continued the game’s spirit of innovation, expanded MLB’s role in youth baseball and softball, and beyond. The significant momentum that MLB has built reflects his ongoing initiatives that are advancing the game.”
Manfred began working with MLB by helping with collective bargaining in 1987 and joined the league full time as executive vice president in 1998 for the next 17 years. He officially succeeded Bud Selig as commissioner in January 2015. The extension to Manfred’s contract puts him in line to guide owners through another round of collective bargaining; the current CBA is set to expire after the 2026 season.
Manfred said in a statement: “It is an honor to serve the best game in the world and to continue the pursuit of strengthening our sport on and off the field. This season our players are displaying the most vibrant version of our game, and sports fans are responding in a manner that is great for Major League Baseball’s future. Together, all of us in the game will work toward presenting our sport at its finest and broadening its reach and impact for our loyal fans.”
Manfred’s tenure has been marked with conflict from both the players and MLB Players’ Association, due in part to his controversial handling of the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, as well as the labor dispute in Winter 2021 which prompted a 99-day lockout. On the flip side, new rule changes implemented, notably the pitch clock, have been widely popular with fans. Additionally, MLB exceeded $10.8 billion in revenue under Manfred’s watch in 2022, rebounding strongly after two years impacted by the pandemic.
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