The Dodgers’ front office shakeup isn’t over yet. As Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles reported first, the Dodgers announced that they have hired Gabe Kapler as their farm director and Padres scouting director Billy Gasparino as their new director of amateur scouting (All Twitter links). Additionally, the team will hire Red Sox special assignment scout Galen Carr, per Saxon, though his role in the Dodgers’ front office is yet unreported. The Dodgers, of course, have already poached Andrew Friedman from the Rays (president of baseball ops) and Farhan Zaidi from the A’s (GM) in addition to hiring former Padres/D’Backs GM Josh Byrnes as their new senior VP of baseball ops. The new-look group is made up of some of the most respected executives from around the game.
Here’s more from the game’s Western divisions…
- On a conference call with Padres season-ticket holders last night, general manager A.J. Preller spoke candidly about the team’s interest in Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas (Twitter link): “We’ve had the chance to see Yasmany Tomas and we’re in the process of determining his value for the Padres. We’re in the game.” San Diego has been said to be one of the front-runners for Tomas, and he’d certainly provide the team with some much-needed offense if he lives up to the hype surrounding him.
- The Rangers will be on the lookout for a backup catcher to pair with Robinson Chirinos this offseason, writes MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan. Sullivan looks at the crop of free agents and notes that A.J. Pierzynski, Gerald Laird and J.P. Arencibia have all played with the Rangers in the past, but he wonders if the team will spend a bit more money on a name like Nick Hundley rather than bringing in familiar faces.
- The Angels announced today that they have promoted Mike LaCassa to assistant director of player development and promoted Jonathan Strangio to manager of Major League Operations (Twitter link).
Gabe Kapler as their farm director?
It’s not April already is it?
I know, right…I was picturing him..eyes bulged..over exaggerating everything during a front office meeting. I’m hoping he and Rex Hudler never meet up…there would be a nuclear implosion
Tomas in SD?
You better not be foolin’!!
If I’m Tomas I’m not going there.
I’m confident someone will inform him of West Coast air.
At the same time they can inform him about the paradise called San Diego.
Hitting in that ballpark is far from a paradise.
Luckily we’re not expecting him to have a high average or OBP. He’s being courted for his power.
I know, if the years and money are right then Petco doesn’t even matter. There aren’t many (if any) better places to be young, famous and a millionaire than San Diego. You wouldn’t have to twist my arm to live and work in San Diego for millions every summer. If I was a ballplayer I’d value lifestyle over park effects. A place like San Diego should provide a smoother transition with it’s huge Spanish speaking population.
Right handed batters shouldn’t have any problems hitting the ball out. Especially someone with his power.
I was under the impression that the ball doesn’t carry for all West Coast teams given the confirmation by such sluggers like Adrian Beltre, Mark Trumbo, Ryan Ludwick, Torrie Hunter and Chase Headley.
Specifically that confirmation is that the ball doesn’t carry to left field. They all say that balls hit to right or center have a better chance to carryout.
AGon averaged more HRs per year in SD than in Boston or LA. And that was coming from the left side (hitting to right)… which has since seen that fence moved in further. Power hitting left handed batters were the issue. Tomas is, of course, a rightie.
He would be a good fit in SD. Padres have gone out to the DR to see him 4 times so they are definitely interested.
Not sure you can call Byrnes well respected. More like well disliked. Folks in Arizona dont speak fondly of him and the Padres brass speak in circles that loudly say we didnt get along. At least he cant micromanage the on field personnel at the major league level from his new position. Its kind of strange that Gasparino is taking a demotion to move to Dodgers. Friedman and Zaidi are great pickups for the Dodgers.
Robinson chirinos is not a good catcher the rangers need miguel montero from dbacks and the can sign nick hundley as a backup