Today Major League Baseball announced a number of changes in the Commissioner’s Office. The most notable move: Joe Torre, who had been head of baseball operations since February 2011, and whose title was most recently “Chief Baseball Officer,” is being eased to the side in favor of former big league pitcher Chris Young.
Specifically, Torre has been named Special Assistant to the Commissioner. While that’s still a job, the move comes with one of those gold watch statements you often get from the head honcho. From the press release:
He’ll advise. He has Manfred’s ear, but he’s no longer the guy who will be issuing out the discipline, riding herd over the umps and meeting the press when there’s a controversial call in Game 6 of the World Series.
Who will do that? Chris Young. Again, from the release:
Other moves:
- Morgan Sword has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Baseball Economics & Operations. Sword will lead the Baseball Economics & Operations Department, reporting to Halem. He will also continue to be deeply involved in baseball’s Labor Relations Department. He’s basically doing what Rob Manfred did a decade ago;
- MLB has also hired longtime Major League players Gregor Blanco and Nick Hundley as Senior Directors, Baseball Operations, each reporting to Young.
Definitely a changing of the guard on Park Avenue.
