Friedman leaves Rays for Dodgers
Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Tampa Bay Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has decided to leave the organization and join the Los Angeles Dodgers as president of baseball operations.
Friedman’s position with the Dodgers is a new one for the organization. Ned Colletti, who was general manager of the Dodgers, will remain with the organization as a senior advisor to CEO Stan Kasten.
“Andrew Friedman is one of the youngest and brightest minds in the game today and we are very fortunate to have him join our organization,” said Kasten in a statement Tuesday. “The success he has had over the past nine years in molding the Tampa Bay Rays team has been incredible.”
Despite overseeing one of the league’s lowest payrolls, the Rays had four postseason appearances, including division titles in 2008 and 2010, in nine seasons from 2006-14 under Friedman. The Rays won the AL pennant in 2008 and lost to Philadelphia in the World Series.
“As I embark upon my next journey, I have only thanks and gratitude to the Rays organization and the Tampa Bay region for a wonderful 10 years together. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have been part of something so special and for the passion and support of this exceptional fan base,” said Friedman. “The Rays organization is loaded with talent from ownership to players and everyone between. We were able to create together an unbelievable culture that no doubt will continue, and I am absolutely confident that the successes we achieved will continue into the future.”
To ensure a smooth transition for the organization moving forward, current Rays president Matt Silverman will now serve as president of baseball operations, and Rays senior vice president of business operations Brian Auld has been named team president.
“I thank Andrew for all he has done for the Rays organization. We have enjoyed great success together, and that’s largely due to the deep and talented organization that Andrew has helped to assemble both on and off the field,” said Rays owner Stuart Sternberg. “While we will miss Andrew, we have prepared ourselves for this possibility, and I have great faith in Matt and Brian in their new roles.”
Friedman joined the Rays in 2004 as assistant of baseball development and was named executive vice president in October 2005.
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Tags: Dodgers, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Rays, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Rays