KFBK has learned that the agreement to bring the Oakland A's to West Sacramento could be in jeopardy. Major League Baseball's Players Association has yet to agree to the upgrades, including the new artificial turf going in at Sutter Health Park.
Baseball's most prolific sports agent, Scott Boras, told KFBK health and safety issues are the problem: "We have no Major League fields that are AstroTurf that are outdoors, they are all indoors. When you have turf that is outdoors, I played on AstroTurf in the Minor Leagues, and that hot sun when it's not a domed stadium gets to 120-130 degrees." Boras went on to tell KFBK there will be new ownership of the Oakland Coliseum beginning next month and they most certainly will need a tenant. "There's a new party that owns the Coliseum that is now ready and willing to negotiate with the A's." Boras believes the team has to listen to the new owners, "because they'll get their full TV rights, and it may be a better deal on that stadium." The African American Sports and Entertainment Group has taken over ownership from the city of Oakland and the A's.
Major League Baseball's Players Association confirmed to KFBK they have not signed off on a move to Sacramento that is expected to begin in March 2025.
More on this story in the player below...
UPDATED ON 9.12 AT 3:00PM: In response to KFBK's exclusive story on why the deal to bring the A's to West Sacramento may be in jeopardy, MLB has released the following statement:
“It is a certainty that the A’s will play their 2025 season in Sacramento as planned. MLB is continuing to work productively with the MLBPA on the details of the transition."
KFBK had originally learned that there are discussions still happening between MLBPA and the League regarding upgrades to Sutter Health Park, including the new artificial turf that will be installed. KFBK has also learned that the Players' Association can not stop the A's from moving to West Sacramento for the 2025 season. After that though, the details are murky, at best.
What's not clear at this time is the role of MLBPA following the 2025 season and none of the parties KFBK talked to for this story are commenting on what could happen after 2025. The confusion began when baseball's most prolific sports agent, Scott Boras, told KFBK health and safety issues will be a problem at Sutter Health Park. "We have no Major League fields that are AstroTurf that are outdoors, they are all indoors. When you have turf that is outdoors, I played on AstroTurf in the Minor Leagues, and that hot sun when it's not a domed stadium gets to 120-130 degrees." Boras went on to say, "we're talking about players with millions and millions of dollars of asset value to teams and to themselves."
Another issue Boras raised is the indoor workout facilities being constructed. Will they be big enough and yield the proper pregame environment for big league players when there is a Minor League game going on? "When you're having a shared facility where you're having multiple teams playing in one space, all those things are unknowns," he said. Boras went on to tell KFBK there will also be new ownership of the Oakland Coliseum beginning next month and they most certainly will need a tenant. "There's a new party that owns the Coliseum that is now ready and willing to negotiate with the A's." Boras believes the team has to listen to the new owners, "because they'll get their full TV rights, and it may be a better deal on that stadium." The African American Sports and Entertainment Group has taken over ownership from the city of Oakland and the A's.
KFBK reached out to MLBPA, the Oakland Athletics, the Sacramento River Cats and Vivek Ranadive' to ask about the above comments from Boras. We received a response from the A's that said:
"The health and safety of our players is paramount. MLB and the MLBPA have been engaged in ongoing conversations on plans for our move to Sacramento. Ballpark renovations have begun and will continue through the offseason to be ready for Opening Day 2025."
KFBK also received the following from MLBPA:
"There are discussions still happening between us and the League."
Following KFBK's initial report, MLB issued the above statement. No one else has offered us a comment.