7:44pm: Stewart and the Diamondbacks are closing in on a multi-year agreement to make Stewart the new GM in Arizona, Nightengale tweets. An official announcement could come on Friday now, rather than Thursday, as had previously been reported.
6:01pm:Â Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi of FOX Sports now hear that Watson is likely to leave the Dodgers and accept an assistant GM position with the Diamondbacks (Twitter link).
4:26pm: Nightengale writes that the D’Backs are still hoping to hire Watson as an assistant GM, but he is expected to remain with the Dodgers.
2:52pm: Stewart says he is transferring his agency business to former teammate Dave Henderson, reports John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle. That would presumably clear the way for Stewart to take the D’Backs job.
Though Stewart did not comment as to whether he had been offered the position, his comments certainly left the impression that he was preparing to take the reigns in Arizona. “As an agent, I’m not challenged every day,” he said. “But this job is 24 hours every day, and I’m looking forward to that.”
12:12pm: The job has “officially” been offered to Stewart, though discussions are still ongoing, tweets Nightengale.
12:01pm: Stewart tells Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that he has yet to be told that he has been chosen for the position, but hopes that he is. “My name, Allard [Baird] and De Jon [Watson] are three names that are, as far as I know, are the last names that are left,” said Stewart. “I do know that by my last conversation with Tony [La Russa], he planned to let us know within the course of today. That does not mean it’s going to happen today but I know it was their plan to give us an indication. We’re sitting on pins and needles, too.”
11:29am: The team is “deep in negotiations” with Stewart on a contractual arrangement, but the sides have yet to reach agreement, tweets Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
10:29am:Â The Diamondbacks are set to offer the club’s open GM position to Dave Stewart, sources tell Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Stewart, 57, has long been said to be the top candidate for the post.
The former big league pitcher, coach, and assistant GM is currently a player agent. Stewart’s broad experience carries obvious appeal, and it surely does not hurt that he has a strong history with D’backs chief baseball officer Tony La Russa, his former manager with the Athletics.
It is not yet known whether an offer has formally been made, Heyman adds, let alone whether a deal has been worked out. This employment situation could be trickier than usual since Stewart would need to figure out what to do with his agency business. Of course, he has now had plenty of time to consider that question, and Stewart has indicated that he would be strongly inclined to take the job if offered.
That infamous stare is going to come in handy during contract negotiations.
It’s probably smart that they hired a guy who knows how to work with players. Towers’ multiple smear campaigns against his own players were unacceptable and I’m surprised the organization even offered him a chance to stay.
I think he is getting the opportunity to stay mainly for the fact he has so many years of experience running a front office, especially with a new GM like Stewart to be stepping in.
I’m sure the D-Back also still appreciate him being behind the reigns of them winning the division in 2011, even though Towers had little to do with the construction of that team.
Towers’ front offices have been characterized by completely dysfunctional relationships. He griped about Lucchino, he had a hate-hate relationship with Alderson and DePo, he didn’t like having Wade watch over his shoulder, the end of his tenure in SD was ugly… is that what you want to have influencing the new guy?
It’s not like I would make this decision to keep him aboard. I’m just characterizing through the D-Backs reasoning as to why they might want him aboard. Apparently he hasn’t made much of a dent to be gone for good.
Stewarts first move, kemp for Archie Bradley, and then sign billingsley to replace Bradley’s spot in the rotation next year?
No just no. Kemp for Bradley will never happen. And if the new GM does make that deal every Dback fan should be calling for his head. Bradley won’t get traded any time soon unless the Dbacks are getting a great player back in return.
Wishful posturing on my part, heh
I’m just saying you don’t your top prospect for an injury prone center fielder who has had one great year and ever since then he has been injured in every season.
Never mind the fact that he’s the Dodgers’ best hitter right now. You may have noticed though that those were serious ankle and shoulder injuries that took the better part of two years to heal up from. He’s played in 147 games so far this year as well and it would have been more if not for the Dodgers having 47 outfielders.
All of that would make him an excellent DH in an AL city because he’s a horrible……and I do mean horrible defensive outfielder. His bat does carry value but the combination of Kemp and Trumbo in the corner outfield spots would be disastrous defensively.
Jason, I got that you were referencing players Stewart represents/(ed) as an agent…
can’t we all wish
AJ Pollock is better than Kemp right now and the cost is not even comparable. The DBacks have no need for another injury prone outfield i.e. Cody Ross
The guy form the Eurythmics?? weird…
Superheavy for the win please.
Good for Stewart! Twelve years too late in my opinion. Should’ve gotten the GM job in Toronto after Gord Ash was let go.
Kim Ng gets passed up again!!! The way everybody crowed about her during the Padres’ search, I figured she would be a lock for this job.
Best of luck to Stewart. I liked his work as a pitching coach for SD, but haven’t followed his career much since.
Good for Stewart. He was a late bloomer as a pitcher but he stuck to it and had quite a run in the late eighties. He has always lived and breathed baseball. I like seeing guys who stick to it get opportunities.