The Nationals announced on Friday that former Diamondbacks and Dodgers executive De Jon Watson has been added to their pro scouting staff and will serve as a special assistant to general manager Mike Rizzo.
Watson served as the Diamondbacks’ senior vice president of baseball operations from Sept. 2014 through Sept. 2016 before being dismissed in advance of a significant front office overhaul in Arizona. Though the 2016 struggles of the D-backs led to a considerable amount of criticism for all parties involved in that iteration of the front office, Watson has long been a respected executive and will bring a wealth of experience to the Washington front office.
With the D-backs, Watson’s duties included “[overseeing]Â the franchise’s professional, amateur and international scouting as well as all player development functions.” Prior to his time with the Diamondbacks, Watson spent eight seasons in the front office of the Dodgers, working in a variety of roles that included lengthy stints as an assistant GM and the team’s vice president of player development. He also served as the Indians’ director of pro scouting and the Reds’ director of scouting after first breaking into the business as an area scout with the Marlins.
How did he get this job?
Used car salesman seems like a reach given what he and Dave Stewart did to the Diamondbacks.
De Jon is a smart dude, probably would’ve been better off without La Russa
That is an awkward picture of the trio
Look like they’re just a group of buds hanging out at the bar.
Nuts to butts…they’re standing awkwardly close lol
Tony has done enough to earn the right of being the middle spoon
Lol…that made me laugh….yeah..LaRussa is the hall of fame meat in any baseball sandwich. Who took this photo? George Brett or Clint Hurdle?
That was my thought exactly. Looks like a cast party from “Hangover 4: Burn Phoenix to the Ground”. Better get LaRussa’s keys, or ride in the cab with Grace.
This picture was taken outside the Rainbow club lol
Horrible hair dye job on Tony.
Definitely does not draw rave reviews.
Lol
This photo was taken outside of a rave
Rizzo: “I was very impressed with how you traded away a premiere outfielder for a mediocre pitcher. We don’t really like this Turner guy, why don’t you come do the same for us?”
Watson: “that sounds like a great opportunity. How about Trea Turner for Tyson Ross straight up?”
Rizzo: “but… he’s a free agent.”
Watson: “Which is why no one will see it coming! And we don’t have to worry about competing offers. It’s a sure thing, just like Shelby was!
Rizzo: “Wow, you really are a genius. You’re hired. “
Maybe Watson knows a disaster when he sees one.
“Hey Mike, I know thus isn’t going to end well. I can get these knuckleheads to send you Trea Turner, but you have to promise me a soft landing job after it blows up.”
Pretty surprised anyone wanted to touch anything that came out of the D-backs old regime. At least not for a while anyways
Baseball is such a tight knit brotherhood that playing 6 degrees of seperation can be cut down to a couple.