Let’s talk about Rob Manfred. Whether you like him or not—and plenty of fans have been pretty vocal about the “not”—he’s made a major impact as commissioner of Major League Baseball. Since taking over in 2015, Manfred has implemented some rules which have existed for decades and also reshaped the way the game is played with new rules. Banning the shift, pitch clocks, adding the Universal DH, and even expanding the playoffs with the Wild Card round—it’s been a whirlwind of change. Some fans love the pace and flash, others miss the old-school feel, but either way, Manfred’s fingerprints are all over this era of baseball.
Now that he’s announced his retirement for January 2029, there’s finally a clear endpoint to his time in office. And with the clock ticking, it’s worth looking at what exactly is still left for him to do before he turns in his commissioner’s cap.
First up, and honestly probably the biggest headache on his plate, is the Oakland A’s mess. This situation has been simmering for years and still hasn’t reached any kind of real conclusion. For so long, Manfred sat back while A’s ownership stripped the team of talent, let their stadium rot, and pushed the fanbase to the brink. Now they’re heading to Las Vegas—but even that’s still a question mark. While funding is lined up for their new stadium in Las Vegas construction only started this month. And in the meantime, the team is going to spend a few seasons in a minor league ballpark in Sacramento. It’s a bizarre, awkward limbo that didn’t feel like a plan so much as a stall tactic.
For fans, this isn’t just another team relocation. This is a legacy issue. If the A’s move to Vegas fails—if they don’t draw fans, or the stadium construction has any delays, or the franchise just continues to flounder—it’s going to be a massive black eye on Manfred’s time in charge. He has to make sure this actually works. Not just looks good in a press release, but actually works.
And the A’s aren’t the only team with stadium drama. The Tampa Bay Rays have been playing in front of empty seats at Tropicana Field for years. While they’ve managed to remain competitive on the field, their off-the-field situation has been rocky at best. This past winter their stadium took major damage to the roof during Hurricane Milton. As a result, they have worked with officials to get the financial assistance necessary to replace the roof and are expect to return home to Tropicana Field in 2026. Some fans are still asking whether Tampa, not St. Pete, would’ve been the better home. And of course, as with anything involving public money, things can get messy real fast.
So with the A’s and Rays, Manfred has two major stadium projects that need to be locked down and headed toward completion before he retires. If both of them are still in flux come 2028, it’s going to be hard to say he left the game in better shape than he found it.
And then there’s labor. Everyone remembers the last lockout in 2021–2022 and how tense things got. Eventually a new Collective Bargaining Agreement got signed, and baseball kept rolling, but it was close. That deal only runs through the end of the 2026 season. So right as Manfred is heading into his final couple years, another labor showdown could be brewing. There are still issues that haven’t been fully addressed: player compensation, service time rules, the possibility of an international draft, the way revenue is shared across teams. Players want a bigger cut, especially the younger guys who don’t get paid their worth until much later in their careers—if at all.
If there’s another lockout, especially one that delays or cancels part of the 2027 season, it could cast a huge shadow over everything else Manfred has done. That’s the kind of thing fans don’t forget. The clock is ticking for him to help guide negotiations and, hopefully, leave the league with labor peace that lasts well beyond his time in office.
Even the All-Star Game becomes part of this whole picture. The 2027 and 2028 games still don’t have confirmed hosts, which seems like a small thing on the surface, but they’re not insignificant. The All-Star Game is still a big marketing moment for baseball, a chance to showcase stars and celebrate the sport. If Manfred wants a proper sendoff, those games could be perfect opportunities. There’s talk that Wrigley Field could land one, which would be a nod to tradition. Milwaukee’s in the mix too, and they haven’t hosted one since 2002, which ended in that infamous tie. Or maybe Manfred gets bold and tries to stage one in Las Vegas to give the relocated A’s some credibility—assuming they’re not still squatting in a Triple-A ballpark by then.
Here’s the thing, folks: As Manfred’s tenure comes to an end, he’s still got a lot on his plate. He can’t coast. He has to make sure the A’s stadium in Vegas is ready for Opening Day 2028, the Rays are back at Tropicana Field by opening day 2026, a new labor deal is worked out without a significant work stoppage, and the All-Star Games in 2027 and 2028 become the kind of showcase events that reflect the modern, faster-paced, star-driven league he’s helped create.
With that… He’s had his share of criticism, and in many cases, it’s been deserved. But he’s also shown he’s willing to make bold moves—even if not everyone agrees with them. If he wants to leave baseball better than he found it, this is his chance. These next four years aren’t just the end of his time as commissioner. They are his final opportunity to get it right.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!