Major League Baseball (MLB) finds itself at the center of a storm as it navigates a high-profile gambling scandal, upcoming labor negotiations, and sweeping changes to its calendar and media presence. The league’s leadership, led by Commissioner Rob Manfred, faces mounting pressure from both lawmakers and fans to safeguard the integrity of the sport while adapting to the evolving landscape of professional baseball.
On November 17, 2025, Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell, representing the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, sent a formal letter to MLB, requesting detailed information and documentation regarding the league’s ongoing gambling investigations. The Senate committee’s inquiry comes on the heels of a major scandal involving two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who were indicted on November 9, 2025, for allegedly rigging pitches in exchange for bribes. Prosecutors allege that the scheme began as early as May 2023, with Clase at the helm and Ortiz recruited into the plot in 2025. Both players were placed on leave by MLB—Ortiz on July 3 and Clase on July 28—and have since pleaded not guilty to the charges, which could see them facing up to 65 years in jail if convicted.
Commissioner Manfred, speaking at the owners’ meetings in Midtown on November 19, addressed the Senate’s request head-on. "We’re going to respond fully and cooperatively and on time to the Senate inquiry," Manfred assured reporters, emphasizing MLB’s commitment to transparency. The Senate has given the league until December 5, 2025, to comply with its request for written responses and supporting documents.
The fallout from the scandal has sent shockwaves throughout the baseball community and prompted swift action from MLB and its betting partners. In an effort to reduce the risk of future improprieties, the league has imposed a $200 cap on wagers placed on individual pitch outcomes and has barred such bets from being included in parlays. "We think the steps we’ve taken in terms of limiting the size of these prop bets and prohibiting parlays off them is a really, really significant change that should reduce the incentive for anyone to be involved in an inappropriate way," Manfred explained. When pressed about the possibility of a complete ban on prop bets, he responded, "We think the changes that we’ve made strike the right balance."
MLB’s partnership with sportsbooks has played a crucial role in detecting suspicious betting patterns. According to Manfred, "The most important undertaking and really the bedrock of the relationship with the sportsbooks is the ability to monitor betting and the ability to discern inappropriate patterns." He credited these monitoring capabilities with helping to uncover the alleged scheme involving Clase and Ortiz.
While the league’s internal investigation into the two pitchers remains ongoing, Manfred made it clear that there is no set timetable for its completion. "We think that we should take advantage of the offseason to make sure that we conduct the most thorough and complete investigation possible," he said. In the meantime, neither Clase nor Ortiz will accrue additional salary until the 2026 opening day, set for March 25.
Beyond the immediate scandal, MLB is also grappling with the broader implications of legalized sports betting. Since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that paved the way for expanded sports wagering, the league has ramped up support services for players who receive threats related to gambling. "We have had in place for some time services that are available to players that receive threats of this kind in terms of providing support through law enforcement," Manfred noted. "We do take it as a very serious issue and do provide support on an ongoing basis."
As if the gambling controversy weren’t enough, MLB is also preparing for potentially contentious labor negotiations. The current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire in December 2026, and a lockout is widely expected on December 2, 2026, as both sides jockey for position. Competitive balance, a perennial hot-button issue among fans, has already surfaced as a central topic of discussion. "We have a significant segment of our fans that have been vocal about the issue of competitive balance and in general we try to pay attention to our fans, so it is a topic of conversation," Manfred acknowledged, while sidestepping specifics about whether ownership will push for a salary cap. Nevertheless, Manfred remains optimistic: "There has never been a lost game since I became involved as an employee of baseball and it is my goal to get this next one done keeping that record intact. It’s a lot of work to be done between now and then, but that’s my goal."
Amidst these challenges, MLB is also ushering in a new era of media and fan engagement. The league recently announced three-year media rights deals with ESPN, NBCUniversal, and Netflix, extending through the 2028 season. Notably, NBC will air MLB games for the first time in 26 years, including "Sunday Night Baseball," "Sunday Leadoff," and all four wild-card series of the postseason. ESPN will distribute MLB.TV, allowing fans to purchase and watch out-of-market games through the network. Netflix, meanwhile, will stream the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Japan, as well as the season opener for the next three years and other marquee events like the Home Run Derby and the much-anticipated "Field of Dreams" game, which returns after a four-year hiatus with the Twins facing the Phillies in Dyersville, Iowa.
The All-Star weekend is also getting a facelift. The amateur draft will move up to the Saturday before the All-Star Game, while the Futures Game shifts to Sunday, followed by a new event featuring former players and celebrities. NBC will televise the first hour of the draft, with the remainder broadcast on Peacock and MLB Network, while also airing the Futures Game.
Technology continues to play a pivotal role in modern baseball, as evidenced by MLB’s new six-year agreement with PitchCom, the electronic device used by pitchers and catchers to prevent sign stealing. The deal ensures PitchCom’s presence through at least the 2031 season. "It’s been important both in terms of moving the game along and deterrence of sign stealing," Manfred commented.
Facility updates are also on the horizon. After being displaced by hurricane damage, the Tampa Bay Rays expect to return to Tropicana Field for their 2026 home opener against the Chicago Cubs. Repairs are progressing, with the roof expected to be dried out by the first week of December 2025. "There’s going to be new turf and padding, new flooring throughout, renovations of the suites, the seating areas. All the air quality tests have come back fine," Manfred reported.
Finally, the San Diego Padres’ ownership is exploring a potential sale following the passing of Peter Seidler. Manfred expressed confidence in the franchise’s appeal: "It’s a really appealing franchise. They’ve done a great job building a fan base. The in-ballpark experience is probably one of our best. They’ve got some great players."
As MLB confronts scandal, innovation, and the ever-present pressures of labor relations, the league’s next chapters promise no shortage of drama. With Senate scrutiny intensifying and a new media landscape taking shape, baseball’s leaders are working overtime to keep America’s pastime on a steady course.
