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Brewers GM Doug Melvin Stepping Aside, Staying On As Special Advisor To Club

The Brewers "finally put an end to speculation" about Doug Melvin's future with the club yesterday by "announcing they are beginning the process of transitioning" to a new GM, according to Tom Haudricourt of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. The search for Melvin's replacement already "has begun." Brewers Owner Mark Attanasio "made it clear Melvin is not leaving the club anytime soon." Instead, he will remain as GM "until a successor is found, then serve the role of paid adviser for a period beyond that." Melvin has been "working on the final year of a contract for the first time since taking over as Brewers' GM." Until yesterday, neither he nor Attanasio "would talk about the plans" for a GM going forward. Attanasio said that a "tentative list of candidates already had been compiled and he planned to begin asking owners at the meetings here for permission to interview those people." He added that exec search firm Korn/Ferry Int'l "has been retained." Attanasio: "The process needs to be exhaustive, so as a result there's no timetable." Haudricourt notes Melvin, who "initiated the transition talks with Attanasio, made it clear that he's not quitting baseball cold turkey." Melvin "wouldn't specify how long he plans to stay as an adviser after a new GM is hired." He said that he would "help with the interview process of candidates." Attanasio said that internal candidates "would be considered." He added that he "liked what Ray Montgomery has done in his first year as amateur scouting director." Melvin's "right-hand man" has been Assistant GM Gord Ash during his entire tenure with the Brewers. Attanasio said that the "long view is to have a new GM in place" for the '16 season, but that it would "help the transition process to find one sooner" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 8/12).

YOUTH MOVEMENT? MLB.com's Adam McCalvy noted Attanasio "expressed some interest in having the Brewers join the wave" of MLB teams that have "turned to young GMs with a focus on analytics." But Attanasio said that he "was open to a wide range of potential candidates" (MLB.com, 8/11). ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian called Melvin's resignation "another sign that teams are going to younger guys, more aggressive guys, sabermetric guys and trying to build clubs in a different way” (“Baseball Tonight,” ESPN2, 8/11). MLB Network’s Joe Magrane said, "This is kind of one of the old-guard, scouting baseball guys, where you’re seeing a changing of the guard. ... I think this is really starting to morph into really a young man’s job" (“MLB Now,” MLB Network, 8/11). Grantland’s Jonah Keri: “Mark Attanasio, who’s a young, aggressive owner, wants a young, aggressive general manager with a sabermetric backing” (“Baseball Tonight,” ESPN2, 8/12). Meanwhile, MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds suggested Melvin be replaced with MLB Senior VP/Baseball Operations Kim Ng. Reynolds: “She needs an opportunity. Look, she’s ran a farm system, she’s been in baseball for a long time, she ran the scouting bureau, she’s done trades, she’s done contracts, she’s done it all and, of course, she has an analytical background as well. ... I think Kim should have a chance to be a GM" (“MLB Tonight,” MLB Network, 8/11).

CURTAIN CALL: ESPN.com's David Schoenfield wrote under the header, "Doug Melvin Turned Brewers Into A Respectable Franchise." Melvin "didn't bring a World Series back to Milwaukee, but he did help reignite the baseball fever that had been tempered by the team's losing" and former Owner Bud Selig's "opining about needing a new park" (ESPN.com, 8/11). ESPN’s Kurkjian said Melvin is "one of the sharpest GMs I have ever been around and he is far from done as a really good executive in the big leagues. And he’ll be a great adviser” (“Baseball Tonight,” ESPN2, 8/11). MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy said, "This had to happen sometime; Doug Melvin turned 63 years old on Saturday. The Brewers are beginning a reset phase" (“MLB Now,” MLB Network, 8/11).

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