Gerard Dipoto (born May 24, 1968) is an American baseball executive and former professional player. He is currently the president of baseball operations for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB).[1] He previously worked in front office positions for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels, and Boston Red Sox. Dipoto played in MLB for the Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, and Colorado Rockies from 1993 through 2000.

Jerry Dipoto
Seattle Mariners
Pitcher / President of Baseball Operations
Born: (1968-05-24) May 24, 1968 (age 56)
Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 11, 1993, for the Cleveland Indians
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 2000, for the Colorado Rockies
MLB statistics
Win–loss record27–24
Earned run average4.05
Strikeouts352
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
As player

As general manager

As executive

Early life

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Dipoto was born to Gerard & Barbara Dipoto and has two siblings, Marc Dipoto and Lori Dipoto-Dorsey. He played high school baseball at Toms River High School North in Toms River, New Jersey. He enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and played college baseball for the VCU Rams.[2]

Professional career

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The Cleveland Indians selected Dipoto in the third round of the 1989 Major League Baseball Draft.[3] He made his major league debut in 1993.

After the 1994 season, the Indians traded Dipoto with Paul Byrd, Dave Mlicki and a player to be named later (minor leaguer Jesus Azuaje) to the New York Mets for Jeromy Burnitz and Joe Roa.[4]

After the 1996 season, he was traded by the Mets to the Colorado Rockies for Armando Reynoso.[5]

Front office career

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Forced to retire during the spring of 2001, Dipoto went to work in the Colorado Rockies' front office as a special assistant to general manager Dan O'Dowd. In 2003, he became a scout for the Boston Red Sox, and in 2004 was a part of the World Series winning team as a scout. In 2005, he returned to the Rockies as the head of professional scouting. When Josh Byrnes, whom Dipoto had known since his days as a Rockies player, became the general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Dipoto went with Byrnes to Arizona and became the director of scouting and player personnel.

Byrnes was fired on July 1, 2010, and Dipoto was named interim general manager.[6] On September 22, Kevin Towers was named the new Diamondbacks' general manager. Dipoto was offered the opportunity to remain with the Diamondbacks.[7]

On October 28, 2011, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim announced Dipoto would be their next general manager, replacing Tony Reagins.[8] Angels' owner Arte Moreno said that "one of the reasons we hired Jerry is that I really liked the way he viewed baseball analytics." However, Dipoto and manager Mike Scioscia disagreed over the use of analytics in baseball decisions,[9] and a rift developed between the two when Dipoto fired Mickey Hatcher from the role of the team's hitting coach.[10] Despite rumors that the Angels might replace either Dipoto or Scioscia after the 2013 season,[11] Moreno announced that both would return to the Angels for the 2014 season.[12]

Tension between Dipoto and Scioscia continued during the 2015 season over the way Scioscia and his coaches delivered statistical reports developed by Dipoto and the front office to their players.[13] Dipoto resigned from his position on July 1, 2015.[14]

On August 12, 2015, the Boston Red Sox hired Dipoto in an advisory role.[15] When the Seattle Mariners fired Jack Zduriencik after seven years with the club, they launched a GM search which lasted exactly one month, culminating with the hiring of Dipoto on September 28, 2015.[1]

On September 1, 2021, the Mariners promoted Dipoto to president of baseball operations and signed him to a multi-year contract extension.[16]

Personal life

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Dipoto and his wife, Tamie, have three children: Taylor, Jordan, and Jonah.[17] Jonah plays professional baseball.[18]

Dipoto is a thyroid cancer survivor. He underwent curative thyroid surgery in 1994.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b Divish, Ryan (September 28, 2015). "Mariners hire Jerry Dipoto as general manager". Seattle Times. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  2. ^ Atlantic 10 article
  3. ^ "3rd Round of the 1989 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  4. ^ Frey, Jennifer (November 19, 1994). "BASEBALL; Mets Trade Burnitz to Indians for Pitching". The New York Times. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  5. ^ Willis, George (November 28, 1996). "Mets Deal Brogna Away To Obtain Bullpen Help". The New York Times. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  6. ^ "Diamondbacks make it official: GM Josh Byrnes and manager A.J. Hinch out - Daily Pitch: MLB News, Standings, Schedules & More - USATODAY.com". Content.usatoday.com. July 1, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  7. ^ "Futures of Gibson, Dipoto to be decided soon | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. September 22, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  8. ^ DiGiovanna, Mike (October 28, 2011). "Angels pick Jerry Dipoto as new general manager". Los Angeles Times.
  9. ^ Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports (September 22, 2014). "Angels found harmony when Moreno said 'go figure it out'". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  10. ^ "Dipoto decides to step down as Angels GM". Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  11. ^ "Mike Scioscia refutes reported rift". ESPN.com. August 25, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  12. ^ "Scioscia, Dipoto to return in 2014". Major League Baseball. October 9, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  13. ^ "Pujols on leak of reported rift between Scioscia, Dipoto: 'We're supposed to be family'". July 2015.
  14. ^ Digiovanna, Mike (July 1, 2015). "Jerry Dipoto resigns as Angels general manager". LA Times. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  15. ^ Axisa, Mike (August 12, 2015). "Red Sox hire ex-Angels GM Jerry Dipoto to help with offseason moves". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  16. ^ "Mariners Extend Jerry Dipoto, Scott Servais". September 2021.
  17. ^ a b John Giannone (April 14, 1995). "RELIEVED RELIEVER METS' DIPOTO GETS WIN OVER CANCER". NEW YORK DAILY NEWS. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  18. ^ "Jerry Dipoto cheers on son Jonah ... against his own team!". MLB.com. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
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Sporting positions
Preceded by Arizona Diamondbacks General Manager
2010
July 1 – September 22
Succeeded by
Preceded by Los Angeles Angels General Manager
2011–2015
Succeeded by
Preceded by Seattle Mariners General Manager
2015–2021
Succeeded by