Joe Torre In Talks With Selig To Take Position In League Office

Torre Is One Of Four Managers Sitting On Selig's Special Committee For On-Field Matters

Former MLB manager Joe Torre "is in talks" with MLB Commissioner Bud Selig about joining the league office as Exec VP/Baseball Operations, according to sources cited by Thompson & Madden of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Torre has had "ongoing discussions with Selig to fill the job" previously held by Mets GM Sandy Alderson. If Torre accepts the job, he "would in turn be responsible for hiring a replacement" for Bob Watson, who resigned last month as VP/Rules & On-Field Operations. A source said that Torre is "not interested in a position that is highly structured, as Watson's job would be, and would prefer to remain" in L.A. Selig is "believed to be discussing the job with other candidates but is known to want a baseball person of high stature to run the operation" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/8). MLB.com's Barry Bloom reported Torre would "take the job most recently filled on a full-time basis by Jimmie Lee Solomon, who was re-assigned" as Exec VP/Baseball Development. A source indicated that the talks between Torre and Selig are "serious and that the likelihood of it happening was high, although there was no timetable for an announcement." Torre is "one of four managers on Selig's special committee" regarding on-field matters (MLB.com, 1/8). Torre reportedly also made overtures to Selig last summer about forming his own ownership group to buy the Dodgers if they are put up for sale (THE DAILY).