Beattie likely to be named Reds GM
ESPN
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2323116
The
Cincinnati Reds are likely to name Jim Beattie as their new general manager this week, the Dayton Daily News reported Wednesday.
An announcement is expected in the coming days, two sources close to the situation told the newspaper.
New owner Bob Castellini fired incumbent general manager Dan O'Brien on Jan. 23. O'Brien was entering his third season as general manager and had a year to go on his contract.
Castellini brought in Beattie as a special adviser in January.
Beattie became the Orioles' executive vice president of baseball operations in December 2002 but was replaced this fall by his top aide, Mike Flanagan. He also spent time as Expos general manager and won a World Series ring as a right-hander for the 1978 Yankees.
Reds baseball operations director Brad Kullman served as interim general manager and was among nine candidates interviewed for the job.
Castellini began reorganizing the Reds' front office a day after the sale was approved. He put chief operating officer John Allen in charge of business operations, with the general manager reporting to Castellini. Under previous owner Carl Lindner, the general manager reported to Allen.
It was a prelude to change. Castellini said the next general manager will decide if more change is needed.
"I'm not going to get more involved operationally," he said. "We're going to hire a general manager and he's going to assess his personnel."
Reds manager Jerry Narron is under contract through 2006, with a mutual option for 2007. Castellini expects him to manage the club this season.
The Reds have been in turmoil since they moved into Great American Ball Park in 2003. General manager Jim Bowden and manager Bob Boone were fired midway through the inaugural season, with Kullman helping to fill in until O'Brien was chosen after the season.
The Reds have had five consecutive losing seasons, their longest such streak in 50 years.
O'Brien's top goal was to rebuild a farm system that had failed to produce pitchers during Bowden's tenure. During his two years in Cincinnati, O'Brien restructured the minor league system and imposed pitch limits to end a trend of prospects getting hurt.
Reds pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Sarasota, Fla., on Feb. 16.