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CHICAGO -- Commissioner Rob Manfred says baseball wants to study high-profile positions within the sport to see if certain qualifications predict success, a step that has everything to do with minority hiring.Baseball had no Latino managers before Rick Renteria took over the Chicago White Sox last month. Dusty Baker of the Washington Nationals and Dave Roberts from the Los Angeles Dodgers are the only black skippers among the leagues 30 teams.But there were 10 minority managers as recently as 2009, according to Richard Lapchick of The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida.Certain perceptions develop as to what people are looking for in particular positions and then people write stories saying, `Oh, thats a problem on the minority front because, you know, maybe minorities are less likely to share these characteristics, Manfred said Thursday at the conclusion of two days of owners meetings.I think a first step in addressing those concerns is identifying which ones really matter and then you start to identify candidates who have all those qualifications and say, hey this may be the perfect guy for you and I have some science behind it in order to demonstrate that he is the best candidate, or she.Major League Baseball hired Korn Ferry last year in part to help top minority candidates in their interviews for positions in baseball operations. But Manfred said the search firm is going to focus on openings for individual clubs when its retained because of the potential for conflicts when it works for the central office and teams at the same time.When the White Sox announced Renterias promotion, they highlighted his ability to communicate in English and Spanish. But Manfred said there are all sorts of factors that could be considered.You could name probably 20 things off the top of your head, he said. The question is, once youve named them, do any of them really predict success on the field?While MLB briefed the owners on baseballs highly successful postseason and the upcoming World Baseball Classic, the ongoing labor talks with the players occupied a significant portion of the meetings at a downtown Chicago hotel, already decked out in its best Christmas decorations.The collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1. Negotiators for owners and players have been meeting since spring training.I remain optimistic that were going to make a deal, Manfred said. This process is not predictable in terms of time. I said there were certain natural deadlines out there. The beginning of the market was one and the expiration of the agreements another, and Im hopeful that were going to get a deal done before that latter deadline.Manfred declined to address any details from the bargaining sessions, but he said an international amateur draft remains on the table.Manfred also touched on several other fronts with the sport and the owners quarterly meetings:-The owners approved changes with the leadership structures in Oakland and Philadelphia, with John Fisher becoming the control person of the Athletics and John Middleton taking over the same position with the Phillies. The As announced that Lew Wolff will be transitioning from managing partner to chairman emeritus, and that he had agreed to sell most of his interest to the remaining owners.Fisher and Middleton each controlled the biggest stake in their specific teams before taking over their new roles.I think the ownership committee has a strong preference that the individuals who are either the largest or one of the largest equity owners in clubs be the individual who is the baseball control person, Manfred said.-Manfred also reacted to supermodel Kate Uptons online support of fiance Justin Verlander after the Detroit Tigers ace finished second to Bostons Rick Porcello in voting for the AL Cy Young Award. Verlander was left off the ballot by two voters, prompting a series of tweets by Upton that were widely circulated on social media.The particular content of the tweet Im not going to comment on, a chuckling Manfred said. I do think that engagement on social media by players and people close to players is important in todays world. I think that it brings attention to the sport at a point during the year when its our offseason and we have less going on.-The Cubs first World Series title since 1908 helped generate great ratings during the playoffs, and there is talk around the sport about how to build on the success from the postseason.Were not going to have the Cubs and 108 years every year, Manfred said. But I think there are lots of compelling baseball stories that can help us produce the kind of postseason popularity that we enjoyed this year.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Mets Jerseys 2020 .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. New York Mets Pro Shop . Dusautoir, the former World Player of the Year, sustained a torn bicep playing for Toulouse in the Heineken Cup on Saturday. The flanker, who has played 65 times for France, is expected to be out for up to four months. https://www.cheapmetsjerseys.us/ . JOHNS, N. Stitched Mets Jerseys . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said. Cheap Mets Jerseys . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. BASEBALLOXON HILL, Md. -- A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press that free agent closer Aroldis Chapman and the New York Yankees have reached agreement on an $86 million, five-year deal.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract was still pending a physical.Chapman was acquired by New York from the Cincinnati Reds last offseason, then was traded to the Chicago Cubs in late July. The hard-throwing lefty helped the Cubs win the World Series and became a free agent when it was over.OXON HILL, Md. -- The Washington Nationals acquired center fielder Adam Eaton from the Chicago White Sox for three young pitchers, including top prospect Lucas Giolito and hard-throwing Reynaldo Lopez, who made the teams postseason roster in 2016.The trade was made during the last full day of the winter meetings outside the nations capital, and comes after Washington failed in its bid to get left-handed pitcher Chris Sale from the White Sox, who instead sent him to Boston.By putting Eaton in center, the Nationals can move Trea Turner -- runner-up for 2016 NL Rookie of the Year -- back to his natural position, shortstop. Eaton has three guaranteed seasons left in a $23.5 million, five-year contract that calls for him to earn $4 million next year, $6 million in 2018 and $8.4 million in 2019.OXON HILL, Md. -- The World Series champion Chicago Cubs have acquired star closer Wade Davis from the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Jorge Soler.Davis will take over the ninth-inning role held by Aroldis Chapman, who became a free agent after the Cubs won their first championship since 1908.The 31-year-old Davis went 2-1 with 27 saves in 30 tries and a 1.87 ERA last season. He spent time on the disabled with a forearm injury and was limited to 43 1/3 innings, but returned to pitch in September.PRO BASKETBALLBEIJING -- Chinas highest court ruled in favor of basketball legend Michael Jordan at the culmination of a years-long case over use of the Chinese rendering of his globally-known name and trademark.The former NBA star has been in a dispute with a sportswear company based in southern China called Qiaodan Sports since 2012. He had previously argued unsuccessfully in Beijing courts that they had used his Chinese name Qiaodan by which he has been known since he gained widespread popularity in the mid-1980s, his old jersey number 23 and basketball player logo to make it look like he was associated with their brand.The Supreme Peoples Court announced that it was overturning two rulings by Beijing courts against Jordan from 2014 and 2015 that had found there wasnt sufficient evidence to support the athletes allegations over the use of his image. It also ordered the trademark bureau to issue a new ruling on the use of the Chinese characters in the brand name Qiaodan.OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Golden State Warriors players and coaches have pledged $75,000 to help relief efforts for the deadly Oakland warehouse firre that happened only a few miles from their home arena.ddddddddddddSeparately, the franchise already donated $50,000 to the Oakland Fire Relief fund. The team made the announcement before playing a rivalry game at the Los Angeles Clippers, and the players also offered a public service announcement providing condolences and also thanks to authorities and first responders.Draymond Green said: As a team that calls the Bay Area our home, we are all devastated by this tragedy that took place right in our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with those that have lost their lives, and our sincere condolences go out to their loved ones.COLLEGE BASKETBALLRANGER, Texas -- Former Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie has retired, citing health concerns as he stepped aside as coach at a Texas junior college.The 57-year-old Gillispie said in a text message to The Dallas Morning News that hes been battling high blood pressure since the summer. The former Texas A&M and Texas Tech coach said he is following the advice of doctors by leaving early in his second season at Ranger College.Gillispie was a rising star in the coaching profession after quick rebuilding jobs at UTEP and Texas A&M, leading to the Kentucky job in 2007.HOCKEYTORONTO -- John Scott, the NHL enforcer who made an unlikely run to the NHLs All-Star weekend last season, has retired.It has been a hell of a ride. But Im done, Scott said in an article published in The Players Tribune.The 34-year-old Scott made headlines last season when he was voted into the All-Star tournament. He played for the Arizona Coyotes for part of the season and still served as Pacific Division captain after being traded to the Montreal Canadiens and demoted to the AHL.Scott had two goals during the mid-season showcase in Nashville, Tennessee, and was selected the MVP of the three-on-three tournament. The NHL has since taken steps to avoid a similar situation with new fan voting rules.OLYMPICSLAUSANNE, Switzerland -- Two days before the release of a new report into Russian doping, the IOC the provisional sanctions imposed on the country over allegations of systematic cheating and cover-ups.The International Olympic Committee executive board said the measures imposed on July 19 have been extended until further notice.The sanctions, originally designed to apply until the end of this year, were put into place following the first report by World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLaren that alleged state-sponsored doping in Russia.Under the measures, the IOC will not organize or give patronage to any sports events or meetings in Russia. In addition, the IOC urges all Olympic winter sports federations to freeze their preparations for major events in Russia, including world championships and World Cups and to actively look for alternative organizers. ' ' '