The A’s threatened this week to leave Oakland. It’s not the first time the idea has been raised over the last couple of decades but it’s got more substance than previous rumors, and it’s more jarring than ever several years into an emphatic Rooted In Oakland campaign.
Officially, MLB is the one directing the A’s to explore new markets until or unless they can get concrete answers and legitimate progress on their proposed Howard Terminal ballpark project. However, the team had a longstanding offer from the league to use this ploy if needed to add pressure during negotiations with the city, reports Alex Coffey of The Athletic.