Questions For Fred Claire?

With the Reds needing Right handed pop, Could there be a chance that Matt Kemp could be traded to the Reds for one of their players? pitching need?

What do you think of the Dodger front offices that have come after yours?

How has the job of general manager changed in the last decade?

What is the best-run organization in baseball and why?

What is the best way for a college student to break into a MLB front office, in any baseball operations capacity? Internships? Is Grad school in, say, economics, helpful? Thanks!

How much say does a GM have in transactions, minor league moves, etc.? For example, how involved is a GM in promoting players through the minor league levels? Does a GM always have the final say in trades?

Teams have philosphys as far as player scouting and development. Does the GM account for the key points in this philosphy or does Scouting Director make those? Could you explain the transition period when making a change at GM. Does a memo go out that this particular skillset is what we are looking for? Or do regional scouts call in when they find a particular player interesting.

Question via email from Shawn:

What do you see the Dodgers Front Office doing if Andrew jones struggles continue into
A) The all star break?
B) Throughout the 2008 season?

What value does Coco Crisp hold?

Where can the Red Sox find relief help?

How do you feel about Joba's move to the starting rotation and if you were in the Yankees front office, what would you have done?

Where do you think Derek Lowe ends up after this seaon? What is a reasonable contract for him?

How did you become the GM of the Dodgers?

Who is the hardest GM to deal with?

Do you and/or other managers around the league look down upon terrible negotiators such as Andy MacPhail (Really Peter Angelos)?

Based on this decade, which GM do you think has done the best job? Worst?

Do you think there is collusion against signing Barry Bonds?

Your thoughts on Pedro Martinez and his continued string of nagging injuries over the last several years? I know you were the GM of the Dodgers when he was traded for Delino DeShields so I'm assuming you probably didn't even expect him to be still in the league at this point since it seemed to be an organizational opinion he'd never make it as a starter.

Biggest trade you didn't make?

What was your particular strategy in the Rule IV draft?
How much of a factor was a player's "signability" back in the 90's as opposed to now? And was there an agent back then that caused you to shy away from a player, a la Scott Boras?
Was it always a "best player available" strategy to strengthen the farm, or did you ever give consideration to how the major league roster was presently constructed?
How much autonomy does a GM have in making the selections? Did ownership ever stand in your way of drafting a player you liked?

What's the most lopsided trade offer that anyone has tried to offer?

Why are teams generally - and the Dodgers in particular - so slow to "go with the kids?" Arizona went with their youth and its paying huge dividends. The Dodgers have had some of the best young talent in MLB, but have gone through the motions with Pierre, Garciaparra, Luis Gonzalez, and now Andruw Jones. At what point is patience no longer a virtue, but a liability?

I would like to reiterate on soxfan9's question. I hope to get into the astounding world of Major League Baseball in some fashion and a front office is how I'd like to do it. Thanks again!

What are your feelings on modern statistics? Did you employ any advanced analysis in your time with the Dodgers? Are you familiar with stats like VORP, WARP and EQA? How prevalent would you say these kinds of statistics are in MLB front offices these days?

Andruw Jones signing good or Bad?

With all the young prospect, would you have traded some of them for a player like Miguel Cabrera?

Just a reminder that Claire hasn't been GM of the Dodgers for ten years...

If you could have been GM for any other organization, which one would it have been and why?

How did you get your start in the baseball business? Can you go over your various jobs and path to promotion to the top?

As a college student who is planning a career in the front office of a baseball team, what advice could you give me?