Arizona Diamondbacks hire Kevin Towers
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced Wednesday that they have agreed to a two-year contract with former Padres general manager Kevin Towers. Towers will be replacing interim general manager
Jerry Dipoto who had replaced Josh Byrnes after he was let go on 1 July. Also included in the deal are options for Towers to eventually become executive vice president.
"I am very excited to be a part of the D-Backs family," Towers said upon his hiring. "I am extremely appreciative of Ken (managing general partner Kendrick) and Derrick for giving me this
opportunity to lead an organization with the ultimate goal of getting back to the playoffs, which I think the fans in Arizona deserve."
Arizona president and CEO Derrick Hall also issued the following statement
"We considered this a critical hire for the organization at this important time," said Hall. "We are in a much better place today than we were three months ago because of the tremendous
job performed by Jerry Dipoto, and now Kevin Towers comes in to continue climbing on this uphill path.
"Kevin is an experienced general manager who brings years of success, roster construction, pitching knowledge, industry networking and talent evaluation to the table," Hall added of Towers.
"He understands what it takes to build a winner and will work diligently to bring continuity to the staff and sustainability to the results."
Towers had spent 14 seasons as general manager for the San Diego Padres before he was fired after the 2009 season. He also served as Padres vice president from 2000-2009. Towers led the
Padres to four National League West titles in 1996, 1998, 2005 and 2006. He also led the Padres to the 1998 World Series where they were swept 4-0 by the New York Yankees. After two more winning seasons in 2006 and 2007, Towers was fired after two consecutive
losing seasons in 2008 and 2009.
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