Considered one of the brightest minds in the game, the Dodger pull off a major cue by convincing Tampa Bay Rays GM Andrew Friedman to join the Dodgers front office.
Wow!
Ramona Shelburne at ESPN has the full story here.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will name Tampa Bay Rays general manager Andrew Friedman as their new president of baseball operations, sources told ESPN.It appears likely that Don Mattingly stays as manager with Colletti being promoted to advisor status. Andrew Friedman is essentially promoted to head all Baseball operations; which likely includes hiring a new GM and directing the future of the entire franchise.
Ned Colletti, who has been the Dodgers general manager since 2005, will remain with the club in a new role as senior advisor to the president and CEO of the Dodgers, Stan Kasten.
Sources said that Friedman, in his role as president of baseball operations, will have the ability to hire a general manager.
Ramona also adds this nice little nugget in her story:
Kasten has long believed a strong farm system is the key to organizational success. It's how he and John Scheurholtz built the Atlanta Braves in the 1990s. And Friedman's strengths in player development and scouting dovetail perfectly with Kasten's vision.I'd love to know what players those were.
Ironically, sources say the Dodgers' failed pursuit of a trade for Price this summer only heightened their admiration of Friedman. Said one source: "They always asked for the right prospects. Not just the guys everybody knows, either."
In celebration of Friedman joining the Dodgers I made the above fantasy card for him. I used a photograph grabbed from Jon Weisman's story on Dodger Insider/J. Meric/Getty Images and the 1987 Topps Baseball card design.
And here is the official announcement from the Dodgers:
Friedman, 37, previously served as the Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations of the Tampa Bay Rays, where, despite overseeing one of the league's lowest payrolls, he led the Rays to four postseason appearances, including two division titles (2008, 2010), in nine seasons from 2006-14. Under Friedman, the Rays posted the franchise's first winning season and won the American League pennant in 2008, when he was named Sporting News' Executive of the Year. After finishing below .500 in each of its first 10 years of existence, the Rays finished above the .500 mark in six consecutive seasons under Friedman from 2008-13.
"Andrew Friedman is one of the youngest and brightest minds in the game today and we are very fortunate to have him join our organization," said Dodger President & CEO Stan Kasten. "The success he has had over the past nine years in molding the Tampa Bay Rays team has been incredible."
Friedman joined the Rays in 2004 and spent two years serving as director of baseball development. His previous experience includes two years as an analyst with New York City-based investment firm Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. and three years as an associate for the private equity firm MidMark Capital.
Friedman received a baseball scholarship to Tulane University, where he graduated with a bachelor of science in management with a concentration in finance. He played outfield for the Green Wave before injuring his shoulder. Andrew and his wife, Robin, reside in St. Petersburg with their two sons, Ethan Jack and Zachary Evan.
...
"Ned Colletti has played a major role in the success of the Los Angeles Dodgers over the last nine years and I'm thrilled that we are able to retain him as a special advisor to me," said Kasten. "Ned's knowledge and experience in the game covering 33 years will be a great asset to the club as we continue to add and build our player development system."
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