Cubs’ McLeod Pulls Name From Vacant GM Position

Since the Padres’ front office relieved former General Manager Josh Byrnes of his duties a week ago, they have diligently began their search  for potential GM candidates, but the interviews seem to be starting off little slow with Larry Beinfest and now Cubs’ Jason McLeod pulling their names from consideration.

As reported on the Darren Smith Show on XTRA Sports 1090 AM in San Diego during an interview with Cubs’ GM Jed Hoyer, McLeod pulled his name from the vacant opening  to remain as Vice President of Scouting and Player Development with Chicago.

Currently, the Padres’ are running a three-team operation with Vice President Omar Minaya and Assistant GM’s AJ Hinch and Fred Ulhman Jr running the team until Ron Fowler and Mike Dee select the right GM.

It was originally reported by Bruce Levine from CBS Sports in Chicago that the Padres sought an interview with McLeod.  McLeod was assistant general manager to former Padres’ GM Hoyer from 2010-2011 before following him to Chicago when Theo Epstein became President of Player Operations with the Cubs in 2012.

Epstein was quoted about McLeod’s resume,“Jason is a great evaluator and has strong leadership skills. He has been in pro ball for twenty years and is ready to run a team. It would be a significant loss for us, but we will be very proud of him when he gets his opportunity to put his imprint on an organization.

Being born in San Diego and later married to the daughter of former Padres’ owner John Moores, McLeod began his career with the Padres’ organization in 1992, when he took an internship with the club. However, after spending a good portion of the 2000’s within the Boston Red Sox’s organization as a scout,  he was promoted Assistant General Manager when Hoyer became the GM of the Padres’.

Hoyer could not speak for McLeod, but he did speculate that McLeod did not want leave what he had started in Chicago when Epstein took over. The Cubs’ have been in a rebuilding process and McLeod wants to be a part of the team getting back to the postseason.

Whatever way the Padres’ move in now, there are still qualified candidates who meet the expectations of ownership and the fans. There are some who suggest bringing back Kevin Towers, who was instrumental with the most successful years in the team’s history, but others could possibly see this as a trial run for either Minaya or Hinch to take over permanently.