Major League Baseball

DiPoto the frontrunner to be Nats' GM

Published Aug. 15, 2009 7:02 p.m. ET

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People within the industry continue to describe Jerry DiPoto as the frontrunner to become the next Nationals general manager, but it's not clear if ownership and club president Stan Kasten have made their final decision.




DiPoto, 41, has been regarded as a future GM for some time and has a strong reputation within both scouting and executive circles. He was a finalist for the Mariners' GM vacancy before Jack Zduriencik was hired last October.

DiPoto's background includes pitching in the majors (390 appearances from 1993 through 2000), scouting (with the World Series-winning Red Sox in 2004) and front office jobs in Colorado and Arizona. He currently works for the Diamondbacks as their vice president of player personnel.

The team could make a decision as early as Tuesday, the first day after the Aug. 17 deadline to sign amateur draft selections. Until then, the organization figures to be fully immersed in efforts to sign No. 1 Stephen Strasburg, the highly-touted right-handed pitcher advised by agent Scott Boras.

Mike Rizzo has been the team's acting GM since March, when Jim Bowden resigned. Rizzo is known for his skills as a talent evaluator, owing to the impressive collection of players Arizona signed during his seven years as scouting director of the Diamondbacks.

Rizzo remains a candidate for the permanent job, major league sources have indicated. Boston assistant GM Jed Hoyer is also among the finalists, the Washington Post reported earlier this week.

Rizzo has made a case to keep the job on a permanent basis with a number of sound decisions in recent weeks. Nyjer Morgan, the center fielder and leadoff hitter, has batted .365 since arriving in a trade with Pittsburgh. At the trade deadline, Rizzo held onto first baseman Nick Johnson until the Florida Marlins finally agreed to part with the player he wanted: Class AA left-hander Aaron Thompson.

The Nationals have stabilized under Rizzo's watch, particularly since Jim Riggleman replaced Manny Acta as the field manager at the All-Star break. The team is 15-14 under Riggleman.

While Kasten and Nationals ownership are believed to have a leading role in the Strasburg negotiations, Rizzo has been involved, too. It would be almost unprecedented for an organization to sign a player of such prominence one day and replace its GM the next. But the Nationals have not been a conventional organization — particularly in 2009.

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