MLB owners today begin a two-day quarterly meeting in N.Y., marking the first set of owners meetings since the formal installation of Rob Manfred as Commissioner on Jan. 25. No major action items are expected. But owners are likely to formally ratify the league's recent multiyear contract renewal with Dish Network, and MLB's newly merged Business BOD will hear investment options for a potential spinoff of MLBAM's business supporting video streaming for outside entities.
This meeting will also see the full implementation of Manfred's reorganized board structure. In addition to that new Business BOD, Manfred created new panels for long-range strategic planning, chaired by Giants President & CEO Larry Baer, and for game presentation and media practices, to be led by Dodgers Chair Mark Walter. Manfred also has turned a special on-field committee created by predecessor Bud Selig into a fully fledged Competition Committee to be led by Phillies Chair David Montgomery. The new panels follow a realignment under Manfred of the league’s Exec Council, now chaired by Cardinals Chair & CEO Bill DeWitt Jr.
