Rob Manfred’s Legacy: Rule Changes, Scandals and MLB’s Future

Rob Manfred’s time as Major League Baseball commissioner has been nothing short of transformative—and polarizing.

Since taking over in 2015, he’s aggressively reshaped the sport on the field and in the boardroom, pitting modernization and profitability against the game’s cherished traditions.

From the pitch clock to franchise relocations, from minor league contraction to the Houston Astros scandal, Manfred’s legacy is a complex mix of innovation, controversy, and lingering questions about where MLB is headed.

Manfred’s Modernization Push: Faster Games, Bigger Business

When Manfred stepped into the commissioner’s office, one of his top priorities was addressing baseball’s growing pace-of-play problem.

Games had routinely stretched beyond three hours, frustrating casual fans and network partners.

His answer was bold and, to some, sacrilegious.

The Pitch Clock and Pace-of-Play Revolution

Under Manfred, MLB rolled out a series of pace-of-play initiatives, the most impactful being the pitch clock.

By 2024, the average game time had dropped from over three hours to under two hours and forty minutes—a seismic shift for a sport long defined by its timelessness.

Traditionalists bristled at the change, arguing that baseball’s rhythm shouldn’t be dictated by a clock.

Still, the numbers were clear: shorter games, more action, and a cleaner product for television.

Manfred was willing to absorb the backlash if it meant making MLB more watchable for a younger, time-conscious audience.

An Owner’s Commissioner: Power, Profit, and Relocation

If there’s one recurring theme in Manfred’s tenure, it’s his unmistakable alignment with ownership.

His decisions have consistently reflected a priority on franchise value, control, and revenue growth, sometimes at the expense of players, fans, and local communities.

The Oakland A’s Move to Las Vegas

Nothing symbolizes this better than the Oakland A’s controversial relocation to Las Vegas.

With long-standing disputes over stadium funding and dwindling attendance in Oakland, Manfred supported ownership’s push to leave a historic baseball city for a more lucrative market.

For many fans, it was a gut punch.

Oakland, with its rich baseball history and passionate fan base, was left behind.

Critics argued that MLB, under Manfred, had chosen leverage and profit over loyalty and community, reinforcing the perception that the commissioner’s office is firmly in the owners’ corner.

Minor League Contraction and Centralized Control

Manfred also presided over a sweeping restructuring of the minor leagues, cutting the system from 160 teams to 120.

On paper, MLB sold the move as an efficiency play: better facilities, improved conditions for remaining players, and tighter organizational control.

The fallout, however, was severe.

Entire communities lost their teams.

Longstanding leagues were dismantled.

Lawsuits and public criticism followed, with many viewing the move as another example of MLB’s willingness to sacrifice grassroots baseball to consolidate power and cut costs.

• 160 to 120 teams: a 25% reduction in affiliated minor league clubs
• Smaller markets hit hardest: communities lost both economic activity and local identity
• Increased central control: MLB strengthened its grip on player development and league structure

The Astros Scandal and Questions of Integrity

No single episode has defined Manfred’s public perception more than the Houston Astros’ 2017–18 sign-stealing scandal.

It wasn’t just what the Astros did—it was how MLB chose to respond.

Immunity, No Suspensions, and a Damaged Trophy

To secure cooperation in the investigation, Manfred granted immunity to Astros players.

The result: no player suspensions, even as the league confirmed a sophisticated, illegal sign-stealing operation during their 2017 title run.

The backlash was immediate and intense.

Players around the league publicly blasted the decision, arguing that competitive integrity had been compromised without meaningful accountability.

Manfred’s subsequent comment referring to the World Series trophy as “a piece of metal” only inflamed tensions, alienating fans and players alike before he walked the remark back with an apology.

Pete Rose and a Hard Line on Gambling

While sports betting has moved toward mainstream acceptance, Manfred has maintained a firm stance on one of baseball’s most controversial figures: Pete Rose.

Rather than re-opening the door to reinstatement, Manfred reaffirmed Rose’s permanent ineligibility, keeping him locked out of the Hall of Fame conversation.

This decision underscored MLB’s historical red line on gambling, even as the league now partners with sportsbooks and embraces betting as a fan-engagement tool.

The message from Manfred’s office: the game may change, but some boundaries remain immovable—at least when it comes to past transgressions.

A Legacy of Change—and an Unsettled Future

Rob Manfred’s time as commissioner has shaken up Major League Baseball in ways few expected.

• Significant on-field changes like the pitch clock and pace-of-play rules
• Major structural shifts in minor league baseball and franchise stability
• High-profile crises involving scandal, relocation, and public trust

Most folks see his leadership style as owner-centric. The wider baseball world often ends up feeling like an afterthought.

Still, he’s pushed the sport—sometimes with a lot of resistance—into a faster, more commercially focused era.

 
Here is the source article for this story: How Rob Manfred shaped his legacy: Rule changes, cheating scandals, Pete Rose, more