Outgoing Padres GM Towers addresses being fired

The new owner has begun looking for a new general manager.

Jeff Moorad, the new CEO of the Padres, made the decision three weeks ago to change GMs and has already begun the process of looking for a baseball executive to replace the fired Kevin Towers.

“I have interviewed three candidates from the outside already, and will interview a couple of more,” said a solemn Moorad at a jam-packed Saturday press conference at Petco Park.

Wanting a more scientific approach to drafting and signing players, Moorad indicated he will look at young assistant general managers and successful farm directors from other clubs.

Related Links: Moorad Audio | Moorad sends wrong message with firing

“We will not consider anyone from inside our building,” ending any speculation that ex-Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta would take over  from his current front office Padres job.

Towers, ending a 14-year run as the Padres GM, was emotional and choked up early in the press conference, but was laughing and joking by the end of his half hour Q&A session.

“I was given an opportunity by Larry Lucchino to replace Randy Smith,” Towers said. ”I inherited some very good talent.  I hope the next general manager who comes in will feel he has been given good talent too. This started well and it is ending well.”

He laughed and joked about having never been fired, pointing to past jobs as a busboy job at a Chinese restaurant in Oregon,  working at a saw mill, working at an auto body shop and his short stint as a Detroit Tigers player that ended early because of arm problems.

Towers seemed to take exception to the fact that Moorad no longer wanted a “gunslinger” general manager on the job.

“Pat Gillick was a gunslinger old-school guy, and he won just a year ago,” Towers said of the Phillies GM.  “There are lots of guys who are scouts who did it by gut reaction and are successful.”

He admitted he learned much over the last several years as young executives took over GM jobs.

“Theo Epstein (Red Sox) taught me alot about stats and trends and computers,” Towers said. “I valued my time with Sandy Alderson (former Padres CEO) too.”

The Padres clinched four divisional titles and an appearance in the World Series under Towers’ watch.

Of the constant money crunch and tight payrolls, he said: “I never once considered quitting or throwing in the towel. I viewed it as a challenge.  Quitting is not part of my makeup.  I said to myself, let’s go find players under the radar, take some veteran gambles and make it work.”

He had enormous praise for the low-key leadership of the two managers he employed — Bruce Bochy and Bud Black — saying their even-keel approach and honesty with players kept the team afloat during the tough times.

Towers said he never feared losing his job, even though he interviewed for the vacant GM post in Arizona when Moorad took over the Diamondbacks.

“I never thought about losing this post, but I know it is part of the baseball world,” Towers said. “New owners want their own people.”

Moorad owes Towers upwards of $1.4 million on his contract, but the outgoing GM says he does not expect to collect.

“There will be a job for me soon,” he said. ”They need to turn the page and get their own people in here.  I will be a resource, but I will look elsewhere quickly.”

Moorad said the incoming GM will make all the baseball decisions, including those related to the remainder of the front office.

“None of Kevin’s people have been let go,” Moorad said.  “That will be the decision of whom we hire in the next three weeks.”

He praised Towers for the job done under duress.  “He pulled a rabbit out the hat the second half of this season.  I was surprised how well our young guys played.”

Before Towers departed, the media gave him a standing ovation for his openness, candidness and availability.

Towers will take part in an all-employee meeting on Monday with the Padres staff to bid farewell to San Diego.

Sports media veteran Lee “Hacksaw” Hamilton is a XX 1090 radio personality and an SDNN sports columnist.

Tags: Jeff Moorad, kevin towers, Padres, SDNN

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