Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday told reporters that his current term of office will be his final one. That means he will step down as commissioner when that term ends in January 2029.
“You can only have so much fun in one lifetime,” Manfred said, via Evan Drellich. “I have been open with them (the owners) about the fact that this is going to be my last term.”
Manfred, 65, will be age 70 when he steps aside. He has served as MLB’s top officer since January of 2015, when he was elected to replace Bud Selig. Prior to ascending to the commissioner’s office, Manfred was MLB’s chief operating officer under Selig and, before that, executive vice president of the league. As one of Selig’s leading lieutenants, Manfred spearheaded labor relations and collective-bargaining negotiations with the MLBPA.
Manfred, as commissioner, has dealt with his share of challenges and upheavals. That list includes the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, the COVID-abbreviated 2020 season, and the suite of rules changes designed to shorten game times and alter the pace of play at the highest level of baseball. Others include reducing the number of affiliated minor-league franchises, the first labor stoppage — an owner lockout — since 1994, and ongoing A’s relocation fiasco.
Before Manfred’s final term is up, he must contend with pressing issues such as the future of streaming and the possibility of a direct-to-consumer platform, possible expansion from 30 to 32 teams, and negotiation of the next Collective Bargaining Agreement leading up to the expiration of the current CBA in 2026.
In January of 2023, Manfred was re-elected to his third and what will be his final term as commissioner.
