The head coach of the Atlanta Braves said lately that he will soon be retiring…..

 

 

In his ten years as commissioner, Manfred has presided over a time of dramatic shift in the sport. As his reign draws to a close, what legacy will he leave behind? What remains for him to achieve? Who will assume command?

We sought the opinions of ESPN MLB experts about Manfred’s leadership and potential implications for baseball upon his departure.

Pitching clock: Bradford Doolittle. That might seem oversimplified, particularly in light of the extensive list of things that have changed and will change while Manfred is in office, but we often recall things that are distinct, evident, and tangible. A shift that has such a profound impact on the sport, both on the field and as a product, is difficult to envision (I’m not sure what the future holds, but I can’t think of a situation where our attention span as a society truly becomes longer). Reversing one of baseball’s most pernicious tendencies and shaving off 24 minutes of game time in one offseason was historic. Pitch clocks, however, represented a desire to let the game evolve with the times rather than merely being a means of amending the rules. In baseball, where ingrained ways of living have been a double-edged coin for the majority of the sport’s existence, this has never been an easy ask. Baseball needed to solve the underlying issue of game duration in order to develop, and under Manfred’s direction, MLB achieved this goal with great success.

Alden Gonzalez: A lot of Manfred’s legacy will be decided over the next five years because we tend to give undue weight to the memories that are most recent in our minds. In particular, it will be impacted by his attempts to bring the sport back to prominence in America and prevent it from disappearing from popular culture. Despite all of his mistakes as commissioner—the lockout, the uneven baseballs, the sign-stealing incident, etc.—Manfred has led encouraging changes in recent years in terms of drawing in more younger fans who had been turning away from baseball. It’s evident in everything from the World Baseball Classic’s energy to the rule modifications meant to speed up play to his firm handling of the RSN fiasco. However, there is still more to be done.

Jesse Rogers: It’s a complex game, but if you can get beyond a few hiccups (many of which were PR errors), you should end up with a greater understanding of it than when you started. Contrary to what many like to claim on social media, or at least what the general public believes, Manfred didn’t “ruin” the sport; rather, it was already destroy decline when he took control. More than the TV blackouts, the World Series trophy being referred to as a “piece of hardware,” or the scandal surrounding the Houston Astros, the historic rule changes that were implemented last year may prove to be his enduring legacy in the coming years. His tenure as commish will appear better in time.

David Schoenfield:Some supporters may argue against punishing the Astros more severely. The proprietors may mention how franchises are becoming more and more valuable. However, I’ll concur with my colleagues and mention the 2023 rule modifications that provided us with an on-field product that was faster-paced and more interesting. As you may have heard, baseball is not very open to change. The National League didn’t come to its senses for over 50 years after the American League implemented the DH in 1973 (don’t disagree with me on this). Therefore, it is an incredible accomplishment to have made such major modifications to the sport’s fundamental structure. In 2023, attendance increased by 9%, exceeding the pre-pandemic totals of 2018 and 2019. More than 29,000 fans attend each game in MLB, and if the league can continue to draw in 70 million or more annually, the sport should thrive long after Manfred retires.

Doolittle: Under Manfred’s leadership, MLB has endeavored to establish itself as the dominant force in the sport. This has been demonstrated through various initiatives such as embracing international baseball, attempting to link the draft with the College World Series, promoting the game among young people, and, most notably, the unsightly consolidation and takeover of minor league baseball. Anticipate that endeavor to persist. It’s difficult to tell whether this is a good or negative thing, but it would be shocking if MLB’s influence over all baseball-related matters didn’t continue to grow as issues like broadcast distribution and venue-related limbos are resolved.

Gonzalez: He has a lot on his plate, but one of his main responsibilities is sorting out the RSN situation and giving baseball fans around the nation easier access to the game. The ultimate goal of the league office is to bring in a major streaming company that can effectively become MLB’s home, lift the blackouts that have kept so many fans from watching their favorite teams based on where they live, and unify the digital and linear rights for all 30 teams under one national roof. Diamond Sports Group’s bankruptcy a year ago hastened that process, and Manfred will be focused mostly on it for the next five years.

Rogers Given the nature of humans, it’s very likely that anything he does during the next five years will live on in our memories. Consequently, a number of factors might affect his term, particularly if there is (and most likely will be) another protracted labor dispute over the next CBA in 2026. The increasing salary gap in the sport might become much more apparent in the years to come. The fact that nearly all of baseball’s highest-paid players are concentrated on a small number of clubs cannot be beneficial for the sport, regardless of how many small-market teams like the Diamondbacks win the World Series. Can you solve that, Manfred?

SchoenfieldDo I have to concur with my coworkers once more? I’ll also toss in realignment and expansion. We already know that MLB will grow to 32 clubs at some point in the future, requiring a realignment of some kind (Yankees and Mets in the same division, perhaps?) and maybe a new postseason system. Even though Manfred stated there is no chance two new teams will be playing before he leaves, he will presumably have a strategy in place by then and have a significant say in selecting the cities. Selecting the proper ones is difficult: The Miami Marlins won two World Series by 2003 but haven’t been competitive since; the Colorado Rockies draw well but don’t win; and the Arizona Diamondbacks haven’t finished higher than ninth in the National League in attendance since 2004. Of the four expansion teams since 1993, the Tampa Bay Rays have done well on the field but their stadium has been a disaster with low attendance. While it may take years to cultivate a fan base, MLB is undoubtedly hoping to steer clear of the issues that have beset the Rays and Marlins.