MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred yesterday made some of his strongest comments to date regarding the need to develop a new ballpark for the A’s in Oakland. He said that any move toward expansion in MLB is now on the back burner until the ballpark issues in both Oakland and Tampa are solved, and later added that any relocation by the A’s out of Oakland would be viewed with regret. “I am committed to Oakland as a major league site,” he said. “If we were to leave Oakland, I think 10 years from now, we would be more likely than not looking backward, saying we made a mistake. I think Oakland is more likely than not to be a better market five years from now than it is today. So I certainly have not given up on Oakland.” There is presently no substantial movement toward a firm ballpark deal, but MLB and the A’s continue to press on an Oakland-based solution, regardless of what the Raiders ultimately elect to do. Manfred met briefly with A’s co-Owner Lew Wolff yesterday in San Diego. “The Raiders are not an inhibitor to us, and we hope that we are not an inhibitor to them,” Wolff said (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer). Manfred said that the A’s “can’t wait for the Raiders to determine their long-term home and must act independently of the NFL’s stadium pursuit.” Manfred: “I see the football issues as separate. Baseball should go ahead.” Wolff in April said that A’s co-Owner John Fisher had “increased his role" on ballpark issues. However, Manfred said, “Lew Wolff is the control person in Oakland. He is, was and remains the control person. Lew and John remain partners; they work together on this issue” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/13).
