Oliver James Montgomery-MLB to vote on Oakland A's relocation to Las Vegas next month

ARLINGTON,Oliver James Montgomery Texas − Major League Baseball plans to officially vote on the Oakland A’s proposed move to Las Vegas at the owners meetings in Arlington, Texas on Nov. 14-16, Commissioner Rob Manfred said Friday before Game 1 of the World Series, but declined to say where the A’s would play until their new ballpark is ready in 2028. 

The relocation committee met three times this week and will give a recommendation to the executive council before the owners’ meetings, which will be presented at the meetings where a three-quarters vote is required for approval.

The move to Las Vegas is expected to be easily approved by the 30 owners.

“I do find it interesting that, amid the conversation and dialogue around finances, rather than staying in the sixth-largest market,’’ said Tony Clark, executive director of the players union, “they’re moving to a market that may have them in a perpetual cycle of receiving revenue sharing.’’

The A’s move was among the myriad of topics Manfred addressed Clark also fielding questions from a small group of reporters on the field.

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MLB roster construction

MLB plans to reduce the number of pitchers on rosters from 13 to 12, perhaps by 2025, to restore value to starting pitching, and reduce the number of openers often used by teams during the regular season. The Arizona Diamondbacks employed a bullpen game in Game 4 of the NLCS, and plan to do it again this series. 

“I do think that historically, starting pitchers have been some of the biggest stars in the game,’’ Manfred said. “And I think the way that pitching is being used right now has caused a diminution in that star kind of quality for some of our starters. I do think it's an issue that we should talk about.’’ 

MLB limited the number of pitchers teams can have on their active roster to 13 two years ago, but still, it hasn’t reduced the number of bullpen games teams have used. 

“I don't think it's had the desired effect,’’ Manfred said.  

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Developing young pitchers

The rash of Tommy John elbow surgeries and injuries among pitchers has Clark questioning the way teams are developing pitchers in professional baseball, and even at the minor-league level. 

“It's something that we have been concerned with for some time,’’ Clark said. “I think the vast majority of it has to do with one how pitchers are being used and what is being valued in a world where you're asking players to grip it and rip it and max effort. 

“At some point in time, you’re going to find that Ferrari in the red, and that engine’s going to blow. That's what we're teaching these guys and suggesting to players is most valuable. … We’re not developing starting pitchers anymore. We're telling pitchers that if you go out there, you throw as hard as you can do it for as long as you can, and as soon as you run out of gas, we’ll bring in somebody else. 

“We're not teaching pitching, we're teaching throwing max effort, and it's manifesting itself now in a way that I don't think is healthy.’’ 

Postseason format

Manfred believes there’s no need to change the playoff structure after just two years, wanting to wait longer to determine if a change is needed to further reward division winners, with the Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers each earning World Series berths as wild-card teams. 

“My own view on this is that our teams play really hard all year long to get into the playoffs,’’ Manfred said. “But one of the greatest things about the playoffs in baseball is anybody can win. And, you know, it's about the competition that takes place in the postseason. 

“I don't think what happened this year is all that out of line with history. I think since 1980, only 11% of teams of those teams [that won 100 games] won the World Series. I mean, that's kind of how baseball playoffs are, and frankly, how I think they should be. 

“My own view is that the format does pretty well.’’ 

Clark reminded reporters that the union’s proposal during their last collective bargaining agreement was that the division winner would have to win only one game in the best-of-three series instead of two games. 

Pitch clock

Clark and Manfred each agreed that the pitch clock worked wonderfully during the regular season, and in particular postseason, with no plans to change it from the current 15-second limit with the bases empty, and 20 seconds with runners on base. The union had discussed adding a few seconds to the pitch clock during the postseason, which was rejected by MLB. 

“I think we made the right call,’’ Manfred said. “Playing the way we played all year is a really important one. And, you know, I'm glad it has doesn't seem to impact on the outcome of any game. We're down 20 minutes, and that's a good thing.’’ 

Said Clark: “I think the guys did a tremendous job of adjustment. … Early in the year was a little rough. Guys got more comfortable as the year went forward. ... We've gotten to a point where I think the casual fan probably doesn't see much of a difference.’’ 

Baseball parity

Clark and Manfred each agreed that parity is working quite well in the sport. This will be the sixth different World Series champion in six years, and the ninth different in the past 10 years. It’s also a strong sign, Manfred said, that the D-backs lost 110 games and the Rangers lost 102 games just two years ago, and are now meeting for the World Series. 

“It's a really good thing for the sport,’’ Manfred said. “When we have a variety of teams that make it to the World Series, teams that haven't been here in awhile, it’s a good thing. This also demonstrated that you can rebuild on a fairly rapid timeline.’’ 

Universal baseball

MLB is no closer to creating a universal baseball with a tacky substance, eliminating the need for rosin, and the temptation for pitchers to use an illegal foreign substance. 

“I would say our progress on the baseball has been kind of a C-minus in general,’’ Manfred said. “It's a very difficult project because you're trying to find that sweet spot between a better grip for the pitcher without dramatically increased or significantly increased spin rate. 

“We thought we had a pretty good model last year, but it got gummy when it got hot. Back to the drawing board on it. We actually had a pretty good conversation with the Japanese professionals about what they've done with their baseball. I'm hoping that'll kind of move us forward a little more quickly at the baseball project.’’ 

MLB investigating the Mets

MLB’s investigation on allegations that the New York Mets have illegally used the injured list, which prompted GM Billy Eppler’s resignation, is currently limited to the Mets. MLB’s investigation began when an anonymous letter by a former Mets’ employee was sent to the league office. 

“When you have kind of an anonymous tip, it gives you a leg up one place that you don't have everywhere else,’’ Manfred said, “so it's hard for me to make a judgment on that issue. We need to finish [the investigation] and then we need to figure out whether we have a bigger problem. Right now, we're focused on the Mets.’’ 

Automated ball-strike system

The automated ball-strike system still is at least two years away from being implanted at the major league level as they try to perfect its accuracy. 

2024 Paris Olympics

Manfred is elated that baseball and softball is returning to the Olympics in Paris in 2024, but it still remains highly unlikely that MLB would shut down for two weeks and permit major-league players to play in the Games. 

“I think everyone appreciates the challenges associated with Major League players playing in a tournament,’’ Manfred said. “That is our season. It’s an everyday game. … We will continue to listen as to whether there's some arrangement that can be worked out.’’ 

Diamond Sports Group

MLB is prepared to take over the broadcasting for 16 of the 30 teams, if needed, with the  Diamond Sports Group declaring bankruptcy. 

“We need to know who they want to continue to broadcast and who they don't want to continue to broadcast,’’ Manfred said, “so that we can make plans in order to deliver games. …It  may not be tomorrow, but we’re going to monetize that content effectively.’’ 

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