With one of their worst starts in franchise history at 16-28 and in last place in the National League West, the Arizona Diamondbacks are already making changes. The team has hired Hall of Fame manager Tony LaRussa. LaRussa won’t be in the dugout though, the team has name him their chief baseball officer Saturday giving him a role where he will oversee things in the front office.
LaRussa, who managed the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals in his stellar 33-year managerial career, retiring following winning his third World Series Championship in the 2011 season. Most recently he has been a special assistant to Bud Selig in MLB’s front office.
“The entire organization is obviously frustrated with the results on the field and we are looking to improve,” Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall said. “Tony brings us a wealth of knowledge, experience and success, and will work closely with Kevin and Kirk in evaluating our current state to determine the future of our baseball operations. He is excited and enthusiastic about the challenge, and we are fortunate to have this Hall of Famer on board and a part of the team.”
Hall said that LaRussa will oversee the baseball operations department. He will work with general manager Kevin Towers and manager Kirk Gibson in attempting to put the Diamondbacks back on the road to winning.
LaRussa will be officially inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in July. He is third all-time in wins by a manager with 2,728 and won six league titles in addition to his three World Series rings.
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