The search for Bud Selig’s successor has begun in earnest.
The commissioner announced Thursday the formation of a succession committee that will work to find a replacement for Selig, who has been on the job since September 1992.
While Selig has hinted at retirement for about a decade, the committee’s existence serves as the latest evidence that, at 79, Selig really means it this time. At a news conference at Major League Baseball’s Manhattan headquarters following the quarterly owners’ meetings, Selig spoke and looked like a man ready to step down when his term ends on Jan. 24, 2015.
“It’s been real to me for a long time,” Selig said of his planned departure.
Bill DeWitt, the Cardinals’ principal owner, will head the committee, which also will feature Rockies owner Dick Monfort, Phillies owner Dave Montgomery, Angels owner Arte Moreno, Pirates chairman of the board Bob Nutting, Twins CEO Jim Pohlad and White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. The committee will work in conjunction with MLB’s executive council (on which DeWitt, Monfort, Montgomery, Pohlad and Reinsdorf also serve), which will formally propose candidates.
A candidate must receive three-quarters of the owners’ votes — that’s 23 of the 30 teams — in order to gain approval.
Asked how much input Selig would have in choosing his successor, DeWitt said, “We’d be remiss if we didn’t ask his opinion along the way.”
It’s believed Selig would like to see Rob Manfred, currently MLB’s COO, succeed him, and other logical candidates include MLB executive vice president of business Tim Brosnan and MLB Advanced Media CEO Bob Bowman.
However, the owners easily could decide that only of their own group could follow Selig, who owned the Brewers until he became commissioner. DeWitt didn’t rule out the possibility that even someone from his committee could be the selection.
In other news:
• Selig said a committee has been formed to analyze — and try to slow down — the rash of elbow injuries to pitchers.
“It’s a problem,” Selig said. “There’s no question about it. I’m almost afraid to pick up the paper every day, because there’s some bad news.”
• Asked to assess instant replay, Selig brought up a controversial call in the April 12 Red Sox-Yankees game, when replay officials neglected to overturn an obviously wrong call against Boston.
“I know there was a play here or there — Red Sox-Yankees — and I understand,” Selig said. “With all due respect, other sports have had it a lot longer than we have. Everybody has a little problem. But I think it’s been amazing. It’s been remarkable.”