Sitting in limbo

Marlins' marketing executive now highest-ranking official

MIAMI (AP) -- Billy the Marlin moved up again Wednesday in the Florida Marlins' chain of command.

The departure of assistant general manager Al Avila was just the latest in a series of offseason defections for the Marlins. Avila, who had been with the organization since 1992, took a job as special assistant to Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield.

The Marlins have been in limbo for weeks because of the pending sale of the team by John Henry to Montreal Expos owner Jeffrey Loria.

Avila had been the highest-ranking official remaining under Henry. That honor now goes to executive vice president Julio Rebull Jr., whose background is in marketing.

"He would be in charge until we get our new ownership," team spokesman Steve Copses said. Other holdovers include one coach, Tony Taylor, and Billy, the team mascot.

Rebull isn't likely to be swinging any trades.

"We're not going to do anything until any ownership change takes place," Copses said.

With spring training less than four weeks away, the Marlins have no team president, no general manager and no field manager. Loria is expected to bring much of his staff to Florida, including executive vice president David Samson, interim general manager Larry Beinfest and manager Jeff Torborg.

The team sent an e-mail Tuesday to other major league clubs giving them permission to pursue Marlins employees in baseball operations for job openings, vice president and corporate counsel Lucinda Treat said.

The e-mail allows those employees to "explore what other options they have," Treat said.

Avila was the last senior baseball executive remaining with the Marlins. After Dave Dombrowski left in November to become president of the Detroit Tigers, baseball operations had been run by Avila, John Westhoff and Scott Reid.

Westhoff was hired by the Tigers on Jan. 8 as vice president and legal counsel. Reid was hired by Detroit last week as vice president and assistant to the general manager.

 

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