Overview
- At MLB owners meetings in Manhattan, Rob Manfred detailed new media arrangements, including a three-year Netflix pact to exclusively carry Opening Night plus the Home Run Derby and the Field of Dreams Game.
- NBCUniversal takes over Sunday Night Baseball, the exclusive Sunday morning window and all four Wild Card Series, ESPN gains rights to sell and distribute MLB.TV, and FOX continues with the World Series as postseason inventory is shared with TBS.
- Following FBI indictments of Guardians relievers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz in an alleged prop‑bet scheme, MLB capped certain prop wagers at $200 and barred them from parlays, with Manfred emphasizing enhanced monitoring over eliminating the bets.
- Owners are renewing a push for a salary cap that the MLBPA opposes, and the current collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2026 season, raising the possibility of a lockout if no deal is reached.
- Manfred cited record World Series viewership and stronger attendance as signs of momentum for the sport, a backdrop that raises the financial and fan stakes of any labor disruption.