Sources among baseball are reporting that Kevin Towers, currently a Special Assistant to Yankees' GM Brian Cashman, is set to becomes the new General Manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. ESPN's Peter Gammons tweeted that three GMs have told him it's a done deal, once the "process" is completed. Ken Rosenthal of FOX reports that the Diamondbacks have "signifiant interest" in Towers, and though he has reportedly yet to officially meet with the team, the Yankees had given Arizona permission to interview him.
Former Padres' GM Kevin Towers's name has always been near the top of the list when discussing possible replacements for Josh Byrnes, along with Diamondbacks Interim GM Jerry DiPoto, current assistant GM Peter Woodfork, Yankees VP of Scouting Damon Oppenheimer, and Dodgers assistant GM Logan White. In recent days, the list had narrowed to mainly Towers, DiPoto, and White. Kevin Towers has also been mentioned as a possible replacement for Omar Minaya of the New York Mets, should they decide to fire him this off-season.
Owner Derrick Hall has stated he wants a GM to be chosen before the end of the season and that they only plan to interview between five and ten candidates. The GM will have an immediate decision to make on the fate of Interim Manager Kirk Gibson.
Kevin Towers interviewed for the Diamondbacks' vacant GM position back in 2005 under Jeff Moorad, but the job was given to Byrnes. Moorad then fired Towers, who had been GM of the Padres for 14 years, last September. The Padres are currently 79-60 and have led the NL West for most of the season. Their recent 10-game losing streak has dropped them to a 1-game lead over the San Francisco Giants, whom they face this weekend.