Manfred: A’s owner focused on moving to Las Vegas

PHOENIX (AP) — Oakland Athletics owner John Fisher recently focused on Las Vegas as a possible future home for the team, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said.

But Manfred, speaking at the Cactus League media day on Wednesday, did not rule out the possibility of the club staying in Oakland.

“I think Mr. Fisher wants to get the best deal to secure the A’s future, whether it’s Oakland or Las Vegas,” the commissioner said. “They need a new stadium, I think that’s beyond discussion.”

The A’s have played at the Coliseum since 1968, with its lease expiring after the 2024 season. After scrapping plans to build parks in Fremont and San Jose, the team announced in November 2018 that it had secured a berth at the Coliseum. .

But this proposal is blocked by money problems and concerns about the need for affordable housing in the area.

“I don’t think they agree on the issue of affordable housing,” Manfred said. “I think the issue now in Oakland is how do you deal with infrastructure funding.”

The A’s would also have to solve financial problems if they opted for a park in Las Vegas.

The team’s uncertain future was one reason it had a payroll of $49 million last year, the smallest of the majors.

The gap between the biggest spenders and the most thrifty clubs led Cincinnati Reds chairman Phil Castellini in January to tell a group of fans that a growing group of clubs had been bereft of aspirations since the day of the opening of the Bell.

“I think most people who pay attention to our sport realize that we have a disparity problem in our sport, both on the revenue side and therefore in the ability to spend on players,” said Manfred when asked about Castellini’s statements, reproduced by some media.

“I think sometimes that leads to frustration in some markets, leading to what I consider unnecessary and unfortunate comments.”