D-Backs GM Kevin Towers Has Been Released

According to the Arizona Republic, the Arizona Diamondbacks reportedly have dismissed their general manager, Kevin Towers. This ends his nearly four-year reign with the team. The organization has yet to confirm.

It became apparent there were issues on May 17  when the D-backs announced the hiring of Tony La Russa to the newly created position of chief baseball officer to oversee Towers and the baseball operations department. Thus giving La Russa the power to decide the futures of Kevin Towers and manager Kirk Gibson. 

La Russa released the following statement

Kevin Towers was hired on September of 2010 during a rough season for the Diamondbacks, after they came in last for the second season in a row. Towers’ first major decision was to retain Gibson, who had been named interim manager on July 1.

Towers went on to remake the roster, particularly its porous bullpen, and the results were immediate as the D-backs surprised many by capturing the National League West title before losing to the Brewers in a thrilling five-game Division Series.

Despite Kevin Towers efforts, the Diamondbacks were unable to improve over the next two seasons and they finished with identical 81-81 records in 2012 and 2013.

Following the 2013 season, the D-backs chose not to pick up the 2015 contract options on Towers and Gibson. But just before Spring Training opened, the team reversed their decision and announced it had signed the pair to extensions of unspecified lengths.

The D-backs raised their 2014 Opening Day payroll to a franchise-record $110 million and once again hoped to be competitive.

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