Legislation Introduced to Challenge MLB's Antitrust Exemption

There are now two forms of antitrust legislation going around

U.S. sentators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Mike Lee (R-UT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) have introduced legislation to challenge MLB's longstanding antitrust exemption. 

They also gave a joint statement in the press release: "The time has come to strike out the outdated and unequal treatment that has long benefited the MLB. Just as teams fiercely compete on the diamond, every sports league should operate under the same antitrust regulations. Our bill will level the playing field, removing the century-old exemption that has given the MLB an unfair advantage. It's time to bring baseball in line with other leagues, fostering a competitive environment that sparks innovation, drives excellence, and keeps fans on the edge of their seats."

The press release also talks about this being the time to challenge the antitrust exemption due to recent events--but they don't mean the A's pending relocation to Las Vegas. 

The four senators cite the recent events that made them take action as the relocation of the All Star Game from Atlanta in 2021 and the controversies surrounding the Los Angeles Dodgers Pride Night celebration. 

This is a different bill than the "Moneyball Act" that representatives Barbara Lee and Mark DeSaulnier introduced just a few days ago. Their legislation is more geared towards Oakland's struggle with the A's, and "would require the owners of any professional baseball club seeking to relocate to compensate the state and local authorities they move away from. If the owners do not oblige, then Major League Baseball would be subject to the anti-trust laws they have been exempt from for over a century."

We are still in the very early stages of this story, and it will develop over the course of months, but one big takeaway here is that Rob Manfred has left the league open on multiple fronts. 

This piece on SABR.com explains some of the history of the exemption, and what would be at risk if it were to be removed.