D-Backs hire Woodfork as assistant GM

11/23/2005
BOSTON -- The committee that has worked diligently and aggressively to fill the void left by Theo Epstein lost one member on Wednesday, as the Red Sox announced that Peter Woodfork, a rising young executive, has been named assistant general manager for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Of course, the Diamondbacks recently selected Josh Byrnes -- Boston's assistant GM the last three seasons -- as their new general manager. Byrnes thought highly enough of the 29-year-old Woodfork to instantly make him one of the most vital members of Arizona's baseball operations staff.
"The opportunity to be the assistant general manager is a great one. Not a lot of people have that in the game," Woodfork said from his office at Fenway Park on Wednesday. "I'm very appreciative of it, and I hope I can live up to the expectations that the Arizona Diamondbacks have for me."
The news was hardly stunning to the Red Sox, as Byrnes made it known to Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino a few weeks ago that he was interested in bringing Woodfork to Arizona.
"We're sorry to see Peter go, but this promotion is an opportunity he has been working for and building toward for several years," said Lucchino. "He was a valuable contributor to our operations and administration for the last three years, and we wish him the best in Arizona, except, of course, in Interleague Play."
Woodfork, along with Jed Hoyer, Craig Shipley and Ben Cherington, had been working feverishly within the baseball offices of Yawkey Way to perform general manager duties until the Red Sox find Epstein's successor. Veteran baseball men Bill Lajoie and Jeremy Kapstein have been overseeing the department as well.
It has indeed been a productive setting on Yawkey Way of late, as the Red Sox have agreed in principle to a trade that will bring talented right-hander Josh Beckett to the Marlins. The much-discussed deal is pending the completion of medical research by both teams.
What the Red Sox had in Woodfork was a well-rounded baseball man. Serving as director of baseball operations and assistant director of player development, Woodfork was instrumental in both contract dealings and the evaluation of Minor League players.
To take this job with the Diamondbacks, Woodfork is leaving his roots. The native of Swampscott, Mass., graduated from Harvard University in 1999, where he graduated with a degree in psychology. But his true passion -- the one that led to his career path -- is baseball. Woodfork was a four-year starter at second base and third base for Harvard, helping the prestigious academic institution to three Ivy League championships.
Now, Woodfork, who had the thrill of working for the Red Sox when they won their first World Series in 86 years, will try to help Byrnes and the Diamondbacks win some NL West championships.
"The opportunity to work with Josh again is tremendous, and it's something I'm really looking forward to," Woodfork said. "Obviously, I leave some with some sadness because I was able to work in Boston, where I'm originally from. The people I work with here have always been great to me, from the top people to the bottom people.
"I see a great opportunity to work for a great organization in Arizona, with good people at the top, a strong ownership group and a general manager that I think can teach me a lot."
Brian Halloran, the club's manager of Major League Administration, will assume some of Woodfork's duties. In a press release, the Sox said that Woodfork will stay on board for several days to help transition Halloran to his new duties.

Source: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/