DePodesta Will Retain Old Staff

VERO BEACH, Fla. — Moving to end speculation about the front office, new Dodger General Manager Paul DePodesta said Thursday he would retain the entire baseball-operations staff this season.

“I’m not making any changes there,” he said. “I haven’t said anything about it until now, because I wanted to observe and get a chance to know them a little bit, and I’m impressed with what I’ve seen.”

There had been concern within the organization that DePodesta would quickly make major changes in the staff he inherited from former general manager Dan Evans. Although DePodesta was hired on the eve of spring training, executives from other clubs said he still had time to make changes.

Most in the front office are under contract through the end of the year, but DePodesta has the authority to do what he believes is necessary.

DePodesta, who plans to hire a farm director, said his attempts to fill that position probably stirred industry speculation about other front-office moves.

“People probably assumed some things because I have made calls looking to fill that position,” he said. “But there’s nothing to [the rumors] about other changes.”

The Dodgers are pleased DePodesta opted for stability.

“It is great that Paul feels confident about the individuals he has surrounding him,” said Derrick Hall, senior vice president. “These are good people who know the system and all of the players within the system.

“This is a strong and positive statement that again points to the stability that Paul is aiming to create here with capable personnel.”

DePodesta has been especially pleased with the work of Kim Ng, vice president and assistant general manager. Ng, Evans’ protege, quarterbacked the club’s arbitration victory over Eric Gagne and has presided over the farm system since Bill Bavasi left to become general manager of the Seattle Mariners.

“I didn’t want to say anything at the press conference [to announce his hiring], because I hadn’t talked to Kim personally,” DePodesta said. “I didn’t know if she wanted to stay, but I very much wanted her to. It was in my mind from the beginning that I wanted her to stay.”

Logan White, the club’s director of amateur scouting, and DePodesta are developing a good relationship, team sources said, and pro scouting director Matt Slater, hired by Kevin Malone, will maintain his duties.

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The Dodgers defeated the Atlanta Braves, 7-5, at Lake Buena Vista to improve to 2-0.... Jeff Weaver pitched three innings and gave up two hits, including a two-run home run to J.D. Drew.... Left-hander Steve Colyer was hit on his pitching hand by a line drive in the ninth inning. He will have precautionary X-rays, Manager Jim Tracy said.