Remember those late-night debates with your buddies, arguing about who’s the GOAT or which team got robbed in the playoffs? Baseball fans, we love a good conspiracy theory, don’t we? And here’s a new one to stir those potboilers: Rob Manfred, who’s got the reigns of MLB, allegedly struck a deal in the shadows with the Washington Nationals to grab his throne. That’s a serious allegation questioning the honesty of the commissioner’s office.
Integrity in baseball is a hot topic nowadays. How about Fernando Tatis Jr.’s PED suspension? Or the battle over pitchers adulterating the ball with foreign substances? With those debates and the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, the fair-foul divide seems to get blurrier by the day. So when a former team president offers a bombshell charge, that the commissioner himself made a backroom deal, it shakes even the most loyal supporter’s faith in the integrity of the game.
And that’s what David Samson, former president of the Marlins, is claiming—a hush deal between Rob Manfred and the Washington Nationals that helped clear his path to power. “Since Rob became commissioner, and the final vote needed to get Rob to be commissioner came from the Washington Nationals,” Samson revealed.
“Ted Lerner [the Nationals’ owner] would not vote for Rob Manfred, and a deal was done behind closed doors to get the Nationals to vote for Rob Manfred.” Samson said that the supposed deal included a commitment to resolve the Nationals’ long-running TV dispute with the Orioles in their favor.”The thought was that there would be, 10 years ago, a settlement with MASN that would accrue to the benefit of the Lerners and the Nationals,” Samson recalled.
Why is Samson suddenly spilling the beans? It all comes down to that lucrative TV contract that restored the Nationals’ coffers in 2014. Remember all those fights with the Orioles about TV rights? The Nationals couldn’t capitalize on this blooming popularity. Then boom – a new agreement, jackpot of TV money, and Manfred as the key player in the mix, acting as the generous peacemaker.
This TV deal isn’t just about money; it’s about power. Once a struggling franchise, the Nationals have become a giant in the broadcast game. And Manfred might have just gained a valuable ally. It’s a win-win for both sides, but at what cost?
The plot thickens: Manfred’s Nationals ties
Isn’t it interesting what Samson accuses? It follows MLB’s announcement in March 2025 that it would not renew its deal with ESPN after the 2025 season. Coincidence? Or is there something else? According to Samson, part of Manfred’s strategy regarding the Nationals’ TV deal was to build up MLB’s overall broadcasting power.
Manfred might also have been maneuvering to take the Nationals’ broadcast rights, break their restrictive deal, and fold them into a new national streaming package that would replace ESPN. It’s a pretty daring theory, but not totally off base.
Now, before we jump to conclusions, let’s dig a little deeper into this Manfred-Nationals connection. It’s not just about the TV contract. Remember when Manfred threw out the first pitch at Nationals Park in 2015? He even joked that he was nervous about how far it was to home plate. Or that touching episode when he asked a kid from the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy to throw out an opening pitch? It’s almost like he has a soft spot for the D.C. baseball scene.
The rumor about Manfred’s power play isn’t exactly a new tale in the world of sports commissioners, is it? Remember the 30-year reign of the iron-fisted David Stern at the NBA? He thrived on backroom deals and was a control freak in the league. Or how about Roger Goodell of the NFL, who has been battered for his handling of player discipline and other issues? The commissioner’s office, in any sport, is a position of immense power. And with great power comes great responsibility, it’s tough to balance.
While other sports have seen their share of commissioner controversies, there’s one that stands out in MLB history: the infamous Bart Giamatti and Pete Rose saga. Giamatti, who took office in 1989, assigned the investigation of Rose’s alleged gambling on baseball. The probe was controversial, with charges of bias and hidden agendas. Giamatti eventually imposed a lifetime ban on Rose, a move that remains controversial. Some argue that Giamatti acted out of spite and a thirst for publicity.
This historical parallel adds another layer to the Manfred situation. Is he following in Giamatti’s footsteps, using his power to pursue a personal agenda? Or is he genuinely acting in the best interests of the sport? Only time will tell.
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