Towers going, going, gone?

By: BRIAN HIRO - Staff Writer | Wednesday, October 19, 2005 11:21 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- The path has been cleared for Padres general manager Kevin Towers to leave the post he has held for the last decade.

The Padres on Wednesday granted the Arizona Diamondbacks permission to interview Towers for their vacant GM position. Padres CEO Sandy Alderson, who approved the request made late Tuesday night, said in a radio interview that Diamondbacks officials will probably discuss the job with Towers in the next two or three days.

"I'm aware that the Diamondbacks asked for permission, and I will be involved in the process," Towers, who's already in Phoenix for the Arizona Fall League, said through a team spokesman.

Towers is signed to a seven-figure contract with the Padres through the 2007 season. But speculation on his future with the organization has been rampant since Alderson was hired away from the commissioner's office in April and handed the reins to the franchise.

Before becoming Major League Baseball's executive vice president for baseball operations in 1998, Alderson was the longtime GM of the Oakland Athletics, leading them to three American League championships and the '89 World Series title.

Alderson sounded Wednesday as if he's prepared to let Towers walk.

"By granting permission to talk, this is not a three- or four-step process, where we get to pull the rug out at any point," Alderson said during his weekly interview on The Mighty 1090. "I think when they request permission to talk it's with the implicit understanding that if they want him, he wants to go, and they're able to reach agreement, that's it."

If Arizona chooses Towers, a possible successor is Grady Fuson, who was recently elevated to a position overseeing the club's scouting and player development. Before serving three seasons as assistant GM of the Texas Rangers from 2002-04, Fuson spent 19 years in Oakland, where Alderson eventually promoted him to scouting director.

Towers also rose through the scouting ranks to be named Padres GM on Nov. 17, 1995. He agreed to a contract extension in March 2002. The Padres won their third division title under the 43-year-old executive's direction last season but were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Because of the uncertainty surrounding Towers, the Padres appear to have halted negotiations with three key free agents: closer Trevor Hoffman, right fielder Brian Giles and catcher Ramon Hernandez. Rick Thurman, Hoffman's agent, said this week that his last contact with the Padres was four months ago.

The Diamondbacks haven't commented on their GM search, but Towers is believed to be the third candidate to interview, following Washington Nationals GM Jim Bowden and Detroit Tigers vice president and assistant GM Al Avila. Dave Wilder, director of player development for the Chicago White Sox, also is reportedly under consideration.

Bob Gebhard has acted as interim GM since Joe Garagiola took an executive job in the league office in early August. Jeff Moorad, Arizona's general partner, has said he hopes to name a permanent replacement in early November.

Contact staff writer Brian Hiro at b_hiro@hotmail.com.