Fowler has gained a spot on MLB's executive council and is being tasked to reshape the game's constitutionGETTY IMAGES
Padres ownership has become "knee-deep in baseball's business," marking a "startling pivot from the out-of-sight, out-of-mind days of the Padres' past," according to Bryce Miller of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. Padres General Partner Peter Seidler and his eponymous private equity firm recently joined up with the league to buy Rawlings, and Padres Exec Chair Ron Fowler is "growing into one of the most connected power-brokers in the game." While working on "re-tooling the game's constitution, Fowler has deepened connections" with Mets Chair & CEO Fred Wilpon, Royals co-Owner David Glass, Giants President & CEO Larry Baer and Twins Owner Jim Pohlad. Fowler: "I'm not saying we carry the kind of clout some people do, but we have a seat at the table." Fowler added, "When we got involved with baseball, we weren't even with the 'outs.' We had no relationships in baseball in 2012. We weren't on any committees. ... Unless you're on the inside, you had no idea what was going on in baseball until you got a letter telling you." Miller noted the "ripples continue" from the deeper involvement, as top marketing and sales execs from each MLB clubs will visit San Diego this week and baseball's "prestigious winter meetings return next year." There are also "more subtle, difficult-to-measure impacts," such as getting "in-the-know agents" to be comfortable with the club. (SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.com, 6/15).
