Aaron to take increased role with Braves

The deal, which Braves chairman Terry McGuirk said values the franchise at $450 million, was unanimously approved by baseball owners at a special meeting called Wednesday night to beat a midnight change in tax laws.

?Hank Aaron is going be a critical part of all this. It was very important to me, and I know it?s very important to Terry and to Bill,? commissioner Bud Selig said at a news conference with McGuirk and Braves chairman emeritus Bill Bartholomay. ?I?m sure there will be an increased role for Hank.?

After setting the career home run record with 755 and retiring as a player, Aaron became a Braves vice president and the director of player development in October 1976 and held that role for 13 years. He became a senior vice president in December 1989 and also currently is on the club?s board of directors.

Selig has been close to Aaron since the slugger played for the Milwaukee Braves from 1954-65, and Aaron spent two seasons with Selig?s Milwaukee Brewers before retiring as a player following the 1976 season. Selig wouldn?t say what Aaron?s increased responsibilities will be with the Braves.

?That?s something they will announce,? Selig said.

Time Warner and Liberty agreed to the sale in February. Liberty said Thursday it exchanged approximately 68.5 million shares of Time Warner common stock, subject to a working capital adjustment, for the Braves, Time Inc.?s Leisure Arts Inc. and $960 million. Liberty retained about 103 million shares (2.8 percent) of Time Warner common stock.

Starting Thursday, the Braves became a self-governed subsidiary of Liberty Media, with McGuirk reporting to the team?s board in his capacity as chairman and president. John Schuerholz remains as general manager and Bobby Cox as manager.