Dodgers Hire Andrew Friedman as New Head of Baseball Operations, Colletti To Stay on as Senior Advisor

Well this made me fall out of my chair this morning. The Dodgers have stolen, coaxed, or should I say hired Andrew Friedman, the former General Manager of the Tampa Bay Rays as their new president of Baseball Operations. Which is basically saying he is the new general manager of the Dodgers. Although we will have more information tomorrow. The Dodgers will hold a press conference tomorrow to announce the hiring. Ned Colletti will stay on in a different capacity as a senior advisor to Stan Kasten. The Ray’s former team president Mathew Silverman will now oversee Tampa Bay’s Baseball Operations.  Ray’s vice president of business operations Brian Auld will assume Silverman’s former role as club president.

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I guess this is a win-win for the Dodgers. They get to have one of the youngest and brightest Baseball minds added to the front office, and they keep Ned Colletti employed in a different role. Seems like a good scenario for all involved. Here is the official announcement from the Dodgers. Now bring us a World Series Mr. Friedman!

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the hiring of Andrew Friedman to the newly created position of President, Baseball Operations. The club also announced that Ned Colletti will remain with the Dodger organization as a Senior Advisor to the President and CEO Stan Kasten.

Friedman will be available to the media at a news conference tomorrow at Dodger Stadium, with details to be announced later today.

Friedman, 37, previously served as the Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations of the Tampa Bay Rays, where, despite overseeing one of the league’s lowest payrolls, he led the Rays to four postseason appearances, including two division titles (2008, 2010), in nine seasons from 2006-14. Under Friedman, the Rays posted the franchise’s first winning season and won the American League pennant in 2008, when he was named Sporting News’ Executive of the Year. After finishing below .500 in each of its first 10 years of existence, the Rays finished above the .500 mark in six consecutive seasons under Friedman from 2008-13.

“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 Dodger President & CEO Stan Kasten. “The success he has had over the past nine years in molding the Tampa Bay Rays team has been incredible.”

Friedman joined the Rays in 2004 and spent two years serving as director of baseball development. His previous experience includes two years as an analyst with New York City-based investment firm Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. and three years as an associate for the private equity firm MidMark Capital.

Friedman received a baseball scholarship to Tulane University, where he graduated with a bachelor of science in management with a concentration in finance. He played outfield for the Green Wave before injuring his shoulder. Andrew and his wife, Robin, reside in St. Petersburg with their two sons, Ethan Jack and Zachary Evan.

In nine seasons under Colletti, the Dodgers reached the postseason five times, with division titles in 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014 and a Wild Card berth in 2006 (tied for division title), and posted the National League’s third-best record from 2006-2014 (783-674, .537), behind only St. Louis (789-668, .542) and Atlanta (785-673, .537).

“Ned Colletti has played a major role in the success of the Los Angeles Dodgers over the last nine years and I’m thrilled that we are able to retain him as a special advisor to me,” said Kasten. “Ned’s knowledge and experience in the game covering 33 years will be a great asset to the club as we continue to add and build our player development system.”