The MLB world is buzzing after significant news emerged on Thursday. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced when he plans to leave his post.
Manfred will exit his position as league commissioner in early 2029. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan broke the big news on Thursday afternoon.
“Rob Manfred said his tenure as Major League Baseball commissioner will end in early 2029,” Passan wrote. Passan posted the news on X, the website formerly known as Twitter.
Rob Manfred said his tenure as Major League Baseball commissioner will end in early 2029.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 15, 2024
In January 2015, Manfred replaced Bud Selig as league commissioner. He became the tenth commissioner in league history when he did, following in the footsteps of Selig, Fay Vincent, Ford Frick, and others.
Manfred’s tenure as commissioner has been criticized often by fans and the media. His handlings over the Oakland A’s and their current stadium situation is one example of that. Commissioners often have it bad, but Manfred certainly has had an interesting tenure. It’s one that doesn’t feature a lot of positives, at least from fans, as the rule changes, playoff expansion, and otherwise have led to disenfranchisement.
With that said, it will be interesting to see who the owners decide will be the next commissioner. They’ll obviously have plenty of time to mull that decision over, with five years left to go.
If you asked anybody online, though, they were wondering what the wait was. The MLB world reacted to the news on Rob Manfred and had plenty to say.
we have five years to manifest a replacement who isn’t worse https://t.co/mRrVKF9Yq3
— Catherine Tinker (@catherinetinker) February 15, 2024
Tenure that will remembered for the collapse of regional sport networks, franchise values stagnating, allowing Oakland to kill a good market, and letting the Astros cheat their way to a World Series with zero consequences https://t.co/inu2suvtM9
— kyle (@knicks_tape99) February 15, 2024
he should do a farewell tour where every fan gets a chance to throw tomatoes and eggs at him https://t.co/eint9rbtbf
— Pinstripe Alley (@pinstripealley) February 15, 2024
Just wish it was sooner. https://t.co/yRdC13nXhm pic.twitter.com/yvsf3gcdCk
— Ray ⚾️ (@_WhoDeyRay) February 15, 2024
Now hopefully they replace him with Theo or someone who actually likes baseball. https://t.co/0okRPxmrjY pic.twitter.com/UJS4DpAo2p
— John Paul (@eagleriverjohn) February 15, 2024
The next commissioner is going to operate the same way, but maybe that person will be a better public speaker. Manfred is combative and buffoonish when you put a microphone in front of him. Baseball needs someone better to represent it publicly. https://t.co/8aW84CBrfR
— River Ave. Blues (@RiverAveBlues) February 15, 2024