MLB Commissioner Bud Selig Saturday in Arizona will announce he has hired Joe Torre as the league's new Exec VP/Baseball Operations, industry sources said Friday afternoon, completing a long transition for the department. Torre will become MLB's lead exec overseeing all on-field matters, completing a long discussion between Selig and the four-time World Series champion regarding the role.
Torre last month expressed strong interest in the job, saying he was "definitely interested" in a front-office position with MLB. But among the matters that needed to be addressed were Torre's residence in L.A., and preference to stay there, and the league's headquarters being based in N.Y. It is not yet known precisely how the pair solved that geographic issue, though it is expected Torre will at least spend significant time in N.Y.
MLB's top baseball operations job had been held since last June on an interim basis by league Exec VP/Administration John McHale following the reassignment of Jimmie Lee Solomon to a baseball development role. McHale will now return to his prior role. Selig will make the announcement at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, the just-opened and highly regarded Scottsdale Spring Training complex for the D’Backs and Rockies. Torre will become one of six MLB officials to hold the Exec VP title.
