Former exec Tony La Russa leaves analyst position with D-backs
Oct 18, 2017, 11:50 AM | Updated: 11:58 am
A year after losing his title as chief baseball officer, chief baseball analyst Tony La Russa announced Wednesday in a release he will depart from the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization by the end of October.
“I am grateful to everyone in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization for the opportunity to complete my baseball education,” said La Russa in a statement. “After years in uniform and working with the Commissioner and many special members of Major League Baseball, being a part of the D-backs was both exciting and educational.
“The challenges facing baseball operations, player development and scouting are unique, as it’s a 24-7, 12-month job and more demanding than I ever realized. The success in 2017 was a complete team effort throughout the organization — including great support from our fans — and with the current leadership in place, we can expect it to be the foundation for many winning years to come.”
Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick, president Derrick Hall and general manager Mike Hazen thanked La Russa for his contributions.
La Russa was hired to lead the D-backs’ front office prior to the 2015 season. After La Russa let go of then-GM Kevin Towers and hired general manager Dave Stewart and manager Chip Hale, Arizona went 79-83 in 2015 and 69-93 in 2016. The organization parted ways with Stewart and Hale after 2016, and re-assigned La Russa to a lesser role.
The D-backs hired Mike Hazen to lead the front office before their 2017 season that led them to the NLDS, where they fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Tony has been of great value to me, personally, and our staff during the past season, and I’m very appreciative for all that he has done here and the manner in which he handled the transition,” said Hazen in a release. “I always had respect for him and his accomplishments prior to working with him every day and that has only grown in the past year. I wish him and his family nothing but the best in the future.”
