Manfred and owners next week are expected to discuss rule proposals that arose at the GM MeetingsGETTY IMAGES
MLB owners will "vote next week on whether to give commissioner Rob Manfred a five-year contract extension" that would run through '24 during their meeting in Atlanta, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. Manfred is "expected to receive unanimous approval," though he only needs "support from 16 of the 30 ownership groups" to get the extension. Manfred and the owners also are expected to "discuss new rules and proposals that arose at the annual GM Meetings," which concluded this week. That includes a 20-second pitch clock for '19, as well as ideas to "limit shifts, diminish the use of 'openers' instead of starting pitchers, and decrease the frequency of pitching changes." The competition committee will discuss potential rule changes in '19, which will then be "addressed with the owners" and the MLBPA (USA TODAY, 11/9). The league and MLBPA "likely will not decide until the eve of spring training whether to change" those rules in an "effort to increase action on the field next year" (AP, 11/8).
MEDIA MATTERS: The AP's Ronald Blum reported owners next week will vote on a "new television contract with Fox and an agreement for in-game cut-ins with the subscription video streaming service DAZN." A source said that DAZN "has been negotiating" a three-year, $300M deal with MLB (AP, 11/8).
