Senators to hire new GM

Geoff Morrow, of the Patriot-News, reported that the Harrisburg Senators will be announcing a new General Manager today. Morrow’s source said that the new GM will be Randy Whitaker. Whitaker recently served as the research and marketing director at WHTM 27 news. I will try to post a profile of Whitaker later today.

Here is Morrow’s full story:
The Harrisburg Senators will introduce Randy Whitaker as the team's new general manager today, a source said Monday. Whitaker, the researching and marketing director at WHTM ABC 27 and a longtime Senators fan, according to the source, will replace Todd Vander Woude, who resigned earlier this month.

Vander Woude held the post since June 1992 after serving as an assistant to Rick Redd. When minor league baseball returned to City Island in 1987, Redd was named the team's first general manager, and he immediately hired Vander Woude as his assistant.

New owner Michael Reinsdorf and Vander Woude came to a mutual agreement that led to the latter's resignation, although Vander Woude was expected to stay on as a consultant as the Class AA Eastern League club pushes for state financing to begin renovations at Commerce Bank Park. Neither Reinsdorf nor Whitaker could be reached for comment, although an announcement is expected from the Senators this morning.

Reinsdorf earlier indicated he wanted to hire a new general manager before the winter baseball meetings, which are scheduled for Dec. 3-6 in Nashville, Tenn. The Chicago businessman and son of White Sox and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf also said he doesn't expect to hire an assistant general manager. Mark Mattern previously held that post but was fired in October, days after Michael Reinsdorf officially assumed ownership from the city of Harrisburg.

The Senators, Class AA affiliate of the Washington Nationals, still don't have an on-field manager. The Nationals have stated earlier they hope to have their minor league staffs announced by the winter baseball meetings.

Scott Little, last year's manager, left the organization after the season. John Stearns, the 2006 manager, was asked to return to Harrisburg for 2008 but hasn't yet accepted the offer.