Thad Levine Emerges As Candidate For Diamondbacks G.M Job

Mar 28, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels (left) and assistant general manager Thad Levine (middle) and senior executive vice president Jim Sundberg talk before the game against the Mexico City Red Devils at the Rangers Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Diamondbacks search to find their next general manager is heating up as each day passes. The Diamondbacks would love to name a general manager before the end of this season, so he can begin evaluating the coaching staff, the roster, and the front office. First, Chief Baseball Officer Tony La Russa has to narrow down a list of candidates. That process just got tougher.

Sources have told CBS MLB Insider Jon Heyman that Texas Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine has been added to the list of candidates. La Russa called Texas and asked permission to speak to Levine.

Levine has been seen for a while as a rising star in the Rangers front office, and he is highly respected around the league. The Rangers front office has had the reputation over the years of having an excellent front office staff led by G.M Jon Daniels. Levine’s long time colleague A.J Preller was hired recently as the new G.M of the San Diego Padres.

Heyman notes that the Diamondbacks are pretty much “set” with their current interview list of 10 candidates, but many add one or two more names. Levine is in his 9th season as Rangers assistant G.M assisting Daniels in all area’s of Major League operations. Prior to joining the Texas front office, he served 6 years in the Rockies front office serving as their director of business operations.

Levine joins a list that that includes Dodgers executive DeJon Watson, Dbacks scouting director Ray Montgomery, Yankees assistant G.M. Billy Eppler, Cardinals executive Gary LaRocque, Angels executive Hal Morris, ex-Marlins General Manager Larry Beinfest, and ex-Astros General Manager Tim Purpura.

One Note: The Diamondbacks got a piece of good news on the injury front on Tuesday. Starter Patrick Corbin and reliever David Hernandez played catch at Salt River Fields for the first time since both pitchers underwent Tommy John Surgery six months ago.