MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred Oddly Floats Giants As Rooting Option for Athletics Fans

A longstanding rivalry exists between the Bay Area’s two teams.

With MLB commissioner Rob Manfred indicating Thursday he would retire following the 2028 season, many found themselves reflecting on his legacy.

A common thread running throughout preemptive Manfred postmortems is a distaste for how the commissioner handled the Oakland Athletics’ impending relocation to Las Vegas. Appearing to run interference for owner John Fisher throughout the process, Manfred attracted critics in both the Bay Area and Nevada.

On Thursday, Manfred raised eyebrows yet again by suggesting fans left behind by the Athletics simply become fans of the San Francisco Giants.

“First of all, we do have a major-league team in the Bay Area,” he said. “It’s not like there is not an available option. The Giants obviously still play there.”

It’s true that the Giants predate Oakland’s presence in the Bay Area by 10 years. However, San Francisco and the A’s have enjoyed a spirited rivalry over the years—typified by their memorable clash in the earthquake-interrupted 1989 World Series and renewed every season in their annual Bay Bridge Series.