It’s been an unusually quiet offseason for general manager turnover — so far. The Rockies re-structured their baseball operations department, the Marlins are mulling changes, and the White Sox are expected to promote two top executives. Otherwise, it’s been relatively slow, with no dismissals midway through a month that’s often filled with GM turnover.
Using Baseball America's executive database I’ve compiled a list of baseball’s longest-tenured general managers. The list shows how long GMs have been with their current teams, not when they got their first gig running a team. That list would look different, with Dave Dombrowski, Sandy Alderson and Dan Duquette at the top (I'm using the term 'GM' loosely; some of the executives below have different titles on their business cards).
The Bay Area has two of the sport’s three longest-tenured GMs in Brian Sabean and Billy Beane. There's been lots of turnover in the past five years, as nearly half (14) of baseball's GMs were hired in that time. Here's the complete list:
- Terry Ryan, Twins, 1994 (stepped aside from 2007-11)
- Brian Sabean, Giants, 1996
- Billy Beane, Athletics, 1997
- Brian Cashman, Yankees, 1998
- Dan O'Dowd, Rockies, 1999 (Bill Geivett assumes many GM duties as Sr. VP of Major League operations)
- Kenny Williams, White Sox, 2000 (expected to be promoted, replaced by Rick Hahn)
- Larry Beinfest, Marlins, 2002
- Dave Dombrowski, Tigers, 2002
- Doug Melvin, Brewers, 2002
- Jon Daniels, Rangers, 2005
- Andrew Friedman, Rays, 2005
- Ned Colletti, Dodgers, 2005
- Dayton Moore, Royals, 2006
- Neal Huntington, Pirates, 2007
- Frank Wren, Braves, 2007
- John Mozeliak, Cardinals, 2007
- Walt Jocketty, Reds, 2008
- Jack Zduriencik, Mariners, 2008
- Ruben Amaro, Jr., Phillies, 2008
- Mike Rizzo, Nationals, 2009
- Alex Anthopoulos, Blue Jays, 2009
- Kevin Towers, Diamondbacks, 2010
- Chris Antonetti, Indians, 2010
- Sandy Alderson, Mets, 2010
- Jed Hoyer, Cubs, 2011
- Josh Byrnes, Padres, 2011
- Jerry Dipoto, Angels, 2011
- Jeff Luhnow, Astros, 2011
- Ben Cherington, Red Sox, 2011
- Dan Duquette, Orioles, 2011
Check out MLBTR's 2010 series on the reaction each GM generated upon taking his first GM job: AL East, AL Central, AL West, NL East, NL Central, NL West.
I figure this is as good a place as any to ask, but what’s happened to the GM Trade Histories?
How is Terry Ryan #1? He was gone for 4 years, that doesn’t count.
Agreed. The concept of the word “longest tenured” means how long since you’ve been there. Even if we count total years there, he should move down, fact is, he left for 4 years.
Hopefully as a Mets fan, Sandy Alderson will be GM as longer as he can to have stability in this franchise.