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Wren latest to get shot at GM job
02/01/2006 6:43 PM ET
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
CINCINNATI -- The Reds' pool of general manager candidates has expanded by one more.
Braves vice president/assistant GM Frank Wren will be the eighth person to interview with owner/chief executive officer Bob Castellini, the club announced Wednesday.
Wren has been Atlanta GM John Schuerholz's right-hand man for the past six years and was Orioles GM in 1999. He was Marlins assistant GM under Dave Dombrowski from 1991-98 and helped build Florida from an expansion franchise to 1997 World Series champions.
The 47-year-old Wren was born in Hamilton, Ohio and also spent time growing up in Kentucky and Indiana.
"I think it's always exciting and interesting to have a chance to interview for a team you grew up watching," Wren said by phone from Atlanta. "The Big Red Machine was my first vivid memory of baseball. I was living and dying with championship games."
After a Minor League playing career in the Montreal system ended in 1984, Wren began his climb up the executive ranks as a Minor League GM in the same organization in 1985. He was credited with building the Expos' farm system and established their Latin American academy.
"It was invaluable," Wren said of his career experiences. "You figure out the things you did right and the things you did wrong."
The Reds did not reveal a date and time for the interview but have begun meeting with candidates this week. There are now four candidates from inside the organization and four more from outside competing to replace Dan O'Brien, who was dismissed Jan. 20 after two seasons on the job.
From within, Castellini will choose among baseball operations director and interim GM Brad Kullman, director of international scouting Johnny Almaraz, special assistant to the GM Leland Maddox and special advisor Jim Beattie. Besides Wren from the outside, there is Cardinals assistant GM John Mozeliak, Twins assistant GM Wayne Krivsky and Phillies assistant GM Mike Arbuckle.
Other moves: To make room for veteran reliever Rick White, who was signed to a one-year contract, the Reds desginated right-hander Bubba Nelson for assignment on Wednesday. Last season at Double-A Chattanooga, the 24-year-old Nelson was 2-4 with a 4.61 ERA and 12 saves in 42 appearances.
Former Reds pitcher Mike LaCoss was named a roving Minor League pitching instructor. LaCoss, who has been out of baseball for the last three years, was a scout for Cincinnati from 1996-97 and a Class A Minor League pitching coach for the Expos in 2002.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
02/01/2006 6:43 PM ET
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
CINCINNATI -- The Reds' pool of general manager candidates has expanded by one more.
Braves vice president/assistant GM Frank Wren will be the eighth person to interview with owner/chief executive officer Bob Castellini, the club announced Wednesday.
Wren has been Atlanta GM John Schuerholz's right-hand man for the past six years and was Orioles GM in 1999. He was Marlins assistant GM under Dave Dombrowski from 1991-98 and helped build Florida from an expansion franchise to 1997 World Series champions.
The 47-year-old Wren was born in Hamilton, Ohio and also spent time growing up in Kentucky and Indiana.
"I think it's always exciting and interesting to have a chance to interview for a team you grew up watching," Wren said by phone from Atlanta. "The Big Red Machine was my first vivid memory of baseball. I was living and dying with championship games."
After a Minor League playing career in the Montreal system ended in 1984, Wren began his climb up the executive ranks as a Minor League GM in the same organization in 1985. He was credited with building the Expos' farm system and established their Latin American academy.
"It was invaluable," Wren said of his career experiences. "You figure out the things you did right and the things you did wrong."
The Reds did not reveal a date and time for the interview but have begun meeting with candidates this week. There are now four candidates from inside the organization and four more from outside competing to replace Dan O'Brien, who was dismissed Jan. 20 after two seasons on the job.
From within, Castellini will choose among baseball operations director and interim GM Brad Kullman, director of international scouting Johnny Almaraz, special assistant to the GM Leland Maddox and special advisor Jim Beattie. Besides Wren from the outside, there is Cardinals assistant GM John Mozeliak, Twins assistant GM Wayne Krivsky and Phillies assistant GM Mike Arbuckle.
Other moves: To make room for veteran reliever Rick White, who was signed to a one-year contract, the Reds desginated right-hander Bubba Nelson for assignment on Wednesday. Last season at Double-A Chattanooga, the 24-year-old Nelson was 2-4 with a 4.61 ERA and 12 saves in 42 appearances.
Former Reds pitcher Mike LaCoss was named a roving Minor League pitching instructor. LaCoss, who has been out of baseball for the last three years, was a scout for Cincinnati from 1996-97 and a Class A Minor League pitching coach for the Expos in 2002.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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