Rob Manfred Announces MLB Players Now Allowed To Bet On Games; Inks Deals With Betr, FanDuel, BetMGM

"Sports betting is cool and it always has been."

Rob Manfred appeared frazzled and short-of-sleep as he stood behind a podium in the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. He stepped up to the microphone and without context said, "Sports betting is now okay. In fact, MLB players can bet on any sport they'd like!"

It was only a few hours later the news would break that Shohei Ohtani's longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizzuhara, was fired from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization for engaging in "massive theft", by using Ohtani's money to place sports bets.

While the MLB believes all wrongdoing is squarely on Mizzuhara, the MLB commissioner stressed that "even if Ohtani had placed a bet, the new rules - implemented immediately and retroactive to 2018 - absolve Shohei Ohtani of any malpractice."

To cement the league's new stance on sports gambling, Manfred inked deals with Betr, BetMGM, and FanDuel. Manfred added, "We've had a very fruitful partnership with Draft Kings and would love to continue to show our love of sports betting by partnering with these other platforms. Sports betting is cool and it always has been."

Manfred then left the impromptu presser and boarded a flight back to the United States, where he was heard mumbling under his breath, "over my dead body will you make me boot Shohei Fucking Ohtani from this league. I made the bases bigger - I can do whatever I want."

MLB Opening Day begins Thursday, March 28th.