Manfred, TV deals on owners’ agenda
A person familiar with the agenda tells the Associated Press that baseball owners plan to vote on a new term for Commissioner Rob Manfred ,a new television contract with Fox and an agreement for in-game cut-ins with the subscription video streaming service DAZN when they meet next week in Atlanta.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because Major League Baseball had not made public the agenda for the meetings, scheduled for Wednesday and next Thursday.
Manfred was elected commissioner in August 2014 to succeed Bud Selig and started a five-year term the following Jan. 25. The person said Manfred’s new term likely will be for five years.
Fox and Turner Broadcasting are in the midst of eight-year agreements through 2021 in which Fox has exclusive rights to the World Series and All-Star game, splits the League Championship Series with Turner and shares the Division Series with Turner and the MLB Network.
DAZN, which launched this year, has been negotiating a $300-million, three-year deal with MLB, the person said. Former ESPN President John Skipper is the chairman of DAZN’s parent company.
Also, MLB and the players’ union likely will not decide until the eve of spring training whether to change some rules in an effort to increase action on the field next year.
Speedy outfielder and leadoff hitter Mallex Smith has been acquired by the Seattle Mariners from the Tampa Bay Rays for catcher Mike Zunino and outfielder Guillermo Heredia as part of a five-player deal. Smith stole a career-best 40 bases this year. He hit .296, tied for the major league lead with 10 triples and had 40 RBIs.
Jung Ho Kang is staying with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates and the third baseman agreed to a $3-million, one-year deal that will bring Kang back for the 2019 season. The 31year-old didn’t play in the U.S. between September 2016 and June 2018 because of visa issues connected to three DUI arrests in his native South Korea.
Hall of Famers, former teammates and others attended a celebration of Willie McCovey’s life. McCovey, the former San Francisco Giants first baseman and left fielder who won NL rookie of the year in 1959 and MVP 10 years later, died Oct. 31 at age 80 after suffering from ongoing health issues.
CC Sabathia says 2019 will be his final season in the major leagues. The New York Yankees finalized his $8-million, one-year contract after he passed a physical.