Orioles to interview Watson on Wednesday
The Orioles will interview their third candidate for the open general manager’s spot Wednesday.
De Jon Watson, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 45-year-old assistant GM and player development director, will meet with the interview committee in Baltimore on Wednesday.
A California native and former minor leaguer in the Kansas City Royals organization, Watson has been both a scout and scouting director in his career and is given credit for the Dodgers’ successful foray into Venezuela. The Orioles’ system has never produced a Venezuelan major leaguer.
Watson also served as the Cleveland Indians' pro scouting director from 2004 to 2006 and the Cincinnati Reds' scouting director from 1998 to 2000. He drafted Adam Dunn, now with the Chicago White Sox, among others.
The club’s search committee has already interviewed Arizona senior vice president Jerry Dipoto and Toronto assistant general manager Tony LaCava. All three candidates are highly experienced, highly respected baseball men with backgrounds in scouting and development – which has become the obvious focus of the Orioles’ search.
It is expected Watson will not be the last to interview, though it’s unclear whether the Orioles have contacted any other club to seek permission.
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
Have a Question, any one listen to Cal on the pre World Series show the first night? He mentioned that he would be very honored to be picked as a manager or for a front office position.
Then he said, he was going to wait until his son, who is a senior in HS this year, finishes this year. Of course, the thought is that he meant the O's.
Does this hinder any the possibitity of the O's hiring aomeone for just one year?
Posted by: Richard, Old O's Fan | October 24, 2011 4:38 PM
What experience does Cal have being a GM or a coach? If he wants to get involved he need to start as a scout, a minor league coach, or a bench coach. I believe he didn't even go to college so a GM job might be a stretch.
Posted by: atomic | October 24, 2011 6:06 PM
I see no reason why Ripken's college experience, or lack thereof, would have any reason on his being a GM. I am pretty sure his 40+ years of experience in the game outweighs some donkey degree.
Posted by: King of the Donkeys | October 24, 2011 10:03 PM
Having been involved in the O's interviewing process not at all, I prefer Dipoto from the outside looking in. He's ready to take the next step in running a baseball operations shop, has a great background in player development, and is on the upside of his career. He's looking to make a success of himself. We're all upside here if the right moves are made. The Red Sox have prospered under Epstein, the Yankees under Cashman, and other orgs with 40-something GM's.
Posted by: Jasphil | October 25, 2011 7:21 AM
They are dragging there feet on this .Free agents can start signing 5 days after the World Series,will we have a GM at that point.My guess is NO because thats how this circus is run.With PA as the head clown.
Posted by: Diamond D | October 25, 2011 9:01 AM
The best canidate is still DAN JENNINGS. If P.A. really wanted him he could talk compensation to the Marlins.
I think very liitle effort was made to push the envelope.
You guys are putting too much hope into Cal snapping his fingers and getting the ship going in the right direction. Things just don't work this way.
WAKE UP PETER!!!!!!
Posted by: mike | October 25, 2011 10:46 AM