MLB will comply with Senate’s request for gambling documents

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NEW YORK – Major League Baseball says it will comply with a Senate committee's request for documents detailing its gambling investigations.

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Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee sent a letter Monday to Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred asking for the information by Dec. 5. The request follows the indictment of Cleveland pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, accusing them of accepting bribes to rig pitches for players. Both pleaded not guilty.

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“We are going to respond fully, collaboratively and in a timely manner to the Senate's request,” Manfred said Wednesday during a news conference at the owners' meeting.

Two days after the allegations were made public on Nov. 9, MLB said its authorized gaming operators would cap bets on individual fields at $200 and exclude them from parlays.

“We believe that the steps we've taken in terms of capping the size of these bets and banning parlays based on them are really, really significant changes that should reduce the incentive for anyone to participate inappropriately,” Manfred said.

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He said it was too early to tell whether MLB would take a position in prediction markets, in which contracts are traded based on actual events such as game results.

“We are well aware of these issues, the different regulatory frameworks, but we are not in a position where I want to publicly articulate my position on this,” he said.

Manfred said there is no timetable for MLB's internal investigation into Cleveland pitchers. Ortiz was placed on paid leave on July 3 and Claeys was placed on paid leave on July 28. They will not be able to receive additional pay until opening day on March 25th.

“We believe we should take advantage of the offseason to conduct as thorough and complete an investigation as possible,” Manfred said.

MLB is helping players who received gambling-related threats following a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized sports betting in most states.

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“For some time we have had services available to players receiving these types of threats in terms of providing support through law enforcement,” he said. “We take this as a very serious issue and provide support on an ongoing basis.”

Collective bargaining

Manfred avoided discussing management's position in collective bargaining over the labor contract that will replace the agreement that expires in December 2026 and whether MLB intends to insist on a salary cap system.

“We have a significant portion of our fans who are vocal about the issue of competitive balance, and in general we try to focus on our fans, so it's a talking point,” was the most he said.

MLB is expected to lock out the players on Dec. 2, 2026, to try to reach an agreement without a shortened 2027 season.

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“I have never lost a game since I joined the baseball team, and my goal is to get through the next game with that record intact,” said Manfred, who joined the MLB team in 1998. “There’s a lot of work to be done right now, but that’s my goal.”

All-Star Break Changes

The amateur draft is moved a day earlier than the Saturday before the All-Star Game, and the Future Game is moved to Sunday, followed by a new event featuring former players and celebrities. NBC will televise the first hour of the draft and the rest of the round on Peacock and MLB Network. NBC will also televise the Futures Game.

Return to Iowa

Field of Dreams action resumes Aug. 13 when Minnesota plays Philadelphia in Dyersville, Iowa, which Netflix will stream. Field of Dreams, the location of the 1989 film, hosted the Yankees and White Sox in 2021 and the Cubs and Reds the following year before closing for renovations. The Triple-A St. Paul Saints will face the Iowa Cubs at the same stadium on Aug. 11.

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Manfred said MLB plans to play in Iowa regularly, but perhaps not annually.

Milwaukee will play Atlanta in the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on August 23.

Pitch.com

MLB has signed a six-year deal through 2031 with Pitch.com, an electronic pitch-signaling device for catchers that has been in use since 2022.

“It was important from both a promotional standpoint and a sign-stealing standpoint,” Manfred said.

Rays and Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay remains on track to return to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., for its home opener against the Chicago Cubs on April 6 after a year of home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the spring training home of the New York Yankees. The Rays were forced to abandon their stadium due to damage caused by Hurricane Milton.

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“I think they only have two panels left and they expect the roof to be dry in the first week of December, which is a really big milestone for us,” he said. “There will be new turf and padding, new flooring throughout, renovations to the suites, recreational areas. All air quality tests have come back good.”

Peace Prize?

MLB has no intention of following FIFA's lead and awarding its own peace prize.

“There are no plans for that,” Manfred said.

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