Let's have some fun with who could replace Rob Manfred as MLB commissioner

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has announced his retirement, calling it once his contract expires at the end of the 2029 season. There are many people who are perfectly qualified to take over for him, so here are our top 10 choices for the next commish.

The nice, safe, boring pick. According to Forbes, the MLB’s deputy commissioner is the top internal candidate for the role.

The Red Sox chairman lost to Manfred during commissioner elections in 2018, the league’s first contested commissioner election since 1972. Could Werner make another run at the title?

If we’re going for MLB executives, why not Epstein? The Fenway Sports Group member has experience consulting the MLB on on-field matters and helped break two of the most notorious curses in baseball – nay, sports history. The miracle worker could help save a baseball league on the decline.

With an increasing trend of former-player executives, what if the league locked in someone with both a background as a player and an owner? The 2029 deadline would give Rodriguez enough time to get some experience as an owner with the Minnesota Timberwolves, divest from the NBA, and bring his former Shark Tank skillset to the big leagues.

Commissioner hires of the past have been full of layers and politicians. Sanders is a longtime baseball fan and advocate for minor league teams across America. He also tried to strip the MLB of its antitrust status. The Vermont senator would be 87 by the time Manfred retires, but he’s still more cogent than most of his younger congressional colleagues.

I don’t think anyone loves baseball more than Bob Costas. Many thought he would be the perfect candidate once Bud Selig retired. He said he won’t do it and is happy just being a broadcaster, but the legend would make sure the game is protected from anyone trying to take away too much from it.

He would have gone pro if he hadn’t blown out his shoulder in the third grade. Plus, he will make everyone run suicides so if nothing else, all players will be in great shape.

He fell off the Hall of Fame ballot, so consider it a “friends to enemies” trope. No better way to take out your grievances than to take over the league and make it everyone’s problem.

She brought so much money and viewership into the NFL, who is to say she doesn’t ditch Travis Kelce for Aaron Judge, all while taking over the league and discovering new venues for her next major tour?

Who doesn’t want to see some Banana Ball elements in the show? No walks, no mound visits, balls caught by fans are considered outs, plus backflips and the occasional flash mob? Cole made baseball more interesting, so let’s see what he could do with the MLB.

If you didn’t already know, the actor’s father, A. Bartlett Giamatti, served as MLB commissioner for five months before dying of a heart attack at age 51. The elder Giamatti was a scholar and former president of Yale.