MLB News: Rob Manfred Receives Five-Year Contract
After 22 years at the helm of Major League Baseball, Bug Selig’s tenure as commissioner will come to a close in January and he’ll be replaced by Rob Manfred, who’s served as MLB’s chief operating officer since September of 2013.
While Manfred was named the Commissioner-elect in August, he had yet to receive a formal contract. That was until Thursday, when he was presented with a five-year contract, according to Paul Hagen of MLB.com:
Rob Manfred, who will become Major League Baseball’s 10th Commissioner in January, formally was given a five-year contract Thursday on the final day of the quarterly Owners Meetings at the Intercontinental Hotel.
As Selig has done since Manfred was named his replacement, he again gave Manfred a vote of confidence:
I believe he is an outstanding choice who will bring true passion and leadership to Major League Baseball,” Selig said. “We are where we want to be. We’re having a wonderful transition, an orderly transition, a good transition. Really very important. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
While Selig faced criticism for some of his decisions and implementations, and saw the game go through a steroids scandal during his time as commissioner, MLB also experienced tremendous growth and prosperity.
One of the immediate challenges Manfred will face is MLB’s desire to accelerate the speed at which games are played. Selig appointed a committee that led to pace of play regulations being tested in the Arizona Fall League.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, potential changes for the 2015 season have not yet been determined:
The committee on pace of play will continue, but no decision yet on changes. More in next 30 to 60 days..
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) November 20, 2014
At the time of electing a new commissioner, the owners went through multiple rounds of voting before Manfred secured the required three-quarters majority. Manfred has worked for MLB in various capacities since 1998.
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