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Jocketty considers offer from Reds
Former Cardinals general manager would take front-office job and become Krivsky's boss.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
The Cincinnati Reds are pursuing former St. Louis Cardinals General Manager Walt Jocketty, offering him one of the titles currently held by President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Castellini, two sources told the Dayton Daily News on Friday.
A source with the Reds said Jocketty would become CEO, with Castellini retaining the title of president. A source in St. Louis said Jocketty has been offered the president's chair.
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Jocketty is considering the offer and has told friends he would have a job in baseball within a week. If he comes to Cincinnati, he most likely would be in charge of baseball operations, a position below Castellini and above General Manager Wayne Krivsky.
Castellini, who heads the Reds' ownership group, refused to talk Friday about upcoming moves by the Reds, including the naming of a permanent manager, and said, "I don't mean to be difficult, but we're not talking about any of this. We're in a shutdown period."
Krivsky, attending meetings in Sarasota, Fla., said, "I'm going to be consistent with what everybody else is doing on this and not make any comments until everything is resolved and we have something to announce. It is better that way."
ESPN reported Thursday that the Reds interviewed former Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants manager Dusty Baker for the managerial job.
It is believed the team also has talked to former Arizona Diamondbacks manager and current Cubs broadcaster Bob Brenly, and Joe Girardi, National League Manager of the Year in 2006 with the Florida Marlins.
A call from the Dayton Daily News to interim manager Pete Mackanin was not returned. He was promised an interview after he led the Reds to a 41-39 record after Jerry Narron was fired this season.
Jocketty, 56, was general manager/senior vice president for the Cardinals from 1994 until he resigned after the 2007 season. He and Castellini are close, their association going back to when Castellini was an investor with the Cardinals, beginning in 1995, a year after Jocketty became GM.
Under Jocketty's direction, the Cardinals won the World Series in 2006, played in the World Series in 2004 and also participated in postseason play in 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2005.
There has been speculation that if Jocketty came to Cincinnati, manager Tony La Russa would follow, but it is believed in St. Louis that La Russa will return to the Cardinals.
If the Reds are to do anything at this juncture, they would have to get permission from Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, because Selig prefers no big announcements during the playoffs.
Contact this reporter at hmccoy@DaytonDailyNews.com.
