Major League Baseball

Source: Disappointing Padres fire GM Towers

Published Oct. 4, 2009 12:11 a.m. ET

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The Padres have fired general manager Kevin Towers, according to a major-league source.




Towers was informed of the team's decision on Friday night, the source said. The move will be announced on Saturday.

It probably won't be the last move in a restructuring of the team's management structure undertaken by new Padres CEO Jeff Moorad. Towers, who had been the general manager since 1995, was the first casualty despite the fact that he will be paid by the club through 2010.

Among general managers in 2009, Towers had the longest active tenure with the same club. He reached the postseason four times and won the 1998 National League pennant.

Meanwhile, two sources indicated that club vice president Grady Fuson is also likely to be dismissed or reassigned within the organization. Fuson's contract continues through 2010.

Over the next several days, speculation will likely center on Jerry DiPoto, Diamondbacks vice president of personnel, with other candidates likely to emerge.

Moorad worked with DiPoto during his tenure as part-owner and CEO of the Diamondbacks and has a very high opinion of him. DiPoto, a former major-league pitcher, was a strong candidate for the Washington GM opening earlier this year. (It's not known if there is some agreement between the clubs about how soon Moorad will be permitted to hire Diamondbacks employees.)

Padres special assistant Paul DePodesta, who was hired by former Padres CEO Sandy Alderson, is not interested in the job, according to a major-league source.

DePodesta, the Dodgers' former GM, is under contract with the Padres through 2011, and his present salary is believed to be comparable to that of many GMs around the league. But his role is in transition, the source said.

DePodesta was hired by former Padres CEO Sandy Alderson and has worked under Moorad for less than one year. But DePodesta is said to have a good relationship with Moorad.

Regardless of who gets the GM job, two sources said Friday that they believe Chris Gwynn, currently a pro scout with the organization, will receive a promotion following this season.

Moorad worked as Chris Gwynn's agent during the former outfielder's playing career, which began in the mid-1980s. Gwynn played for the Padres during the 1996 season — his final one in the majors — and his family's prior and current links to the franchise certainly won't hurt his advancement.

One person in the industry described Gwynn as being a good fit for a leadership role in player development, player personnel or scouting. The scouting and player development departments have been under the domain of Fuson since the end of the 2005 season.

The Padres entered Friday fourth in the National League West with a 74-85 record. Their front office was destined to have at least some change in personnel this off-season since Jeff Kingston, previously their director of baseball operations, left to become an assistant general manager with the Seattle Mariners.

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