Larry Lucchino thinks Bud Selig could remain MLB Commissioner beyond 2014

Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

Larry Lucchino, the Boston Red Sox President & CEO, spoke with members of the media on Friday from the team’s Spring Training home in Ft. Myers, Florida. Numerous topics came up – including potential contract extensions for David Ortiz and Jon Lester, as well as some questions regarding the free-spending offseason that the team’s division rival New York Yankees just had – but perhaps the most notable comments surrounded the pending retirement at the end of the 2014 season of current MLB Commissioner Bud Selig.

In short, Lucchino doesn’t think that Selig will end up walking away from the game.

The belief is that a handful of MLB executives (Lucchino included) don’t want to see Selig retire from Major League Baseball. The belief is that despite various issues – the All Star Game tie, PEDs, and more – Selig’s tenure leading the sport has just simply been too beneficial to the game of baseball to let him walk away. Selig’s grown the game more than any Commissioner before him. Lucchino believes that there will be enough pressure put on him to stay that he will have no choice but to do so.

Now, most fans across the game do recognize the accomplishments that Selig has been able to implement during his tenure. Revenues are at an all time high. Interest in the sport continues to grow across the globe. There’s been a collective peace between the players and owners for 20 years. While there is recognition for the good that he’s been able to do for the game, there’s also a strong belief that it’s time to pass the reigns onto to someone else to continue taking the game to that next level.

As things stand, Selig’s retirement will become official at the conclusion of his current term as Commissioner – January 24, 2015. He made that announcement back in September and by all indications, he intends to stick to it.