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In January 2015, Rob Manfred took the reigns of the MLB as the league's 10th commissioner. As the first commissioner to assume office in the 21st century, Manfred has his work cut out for him.
On July 26, 2023, his office announced that the owners of the league's 30 teams voted to extend his contract through the 2028 season. Although not published, his expected salary will reportedly be somewhere in the realm of $17.5 million per season.
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"MLB owners have voted to extend Rob Manfred's contract as MLB Commissioner through January 2029, per @EvanDrellich" - FOX Sports: MLB
A New York attorney by profession, Manfred first began working with the league in 1987 as part of the collective bargaining team. It was there that the 29-year-old began to learn about the business of baseball.
After successfully leading the league's investigation into the Biogenesis scandal, observers began to look at Manfred as a serious contender to replace then-outgoing league boss Bud Selig.
Being the commissioner of the MLB is undoubtedly a tough job. As the face of the league, the office is responsible for hiring and overseeing umpires, as well as securing marketing and TV deals. In 2014, the league's owners elected Manfred over Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner to be commissioner.
Right away, Rob Manfred got to work. He was at the forefront of the suspensions handed out to Houston Astros coaching staff following their role in the sign-stealing scandal and attempted to dock player pay during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, possibly Rob Manfred's biggest achievement to date is the introduction of sweeping rule changes ahead of the 2023 season. Among the regulations designed by Manfred's office to stimulate offense and shorten games were bans on defensive shifts, a three-inch increase in base sizes and the pitch clock.
"Watch Commissioner Manfred's entire interview with Tom Verducci on MLB Tonight." - MLB Network
While the new rules originally provoked the ire of many traditionalists, the results appear to have been favorable. Both offense and ratings are up from last season.
Rob Manfred may be the most important commissioner in MLB history
A polarizing figure to be sure, Manfred's contract was a firm endorsement of his approach. Although the rule changes have been difficult to adapt to for some, the general consensus is overwhelmingly positive.
Manfred's term will see the expected relocation of the Oakland Athletics to Las Vegas, as well as multiple challenges pertaining to automated strike zones. Manfred has already spoken about the need to experiment with it moving forward.
