Walt Jocketty spent the previous 13 years as the general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. (Al Behrman/AP)
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CINCINNATI -- When former Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty -- a friend of Reds owner Bob Castellini -- was brought into Cincinnati's front office this past winter, many perceived it as a clear sign that Reds GM Wayne Krivsky's job was in jeopardy.
Few expected a change would happen this soon. But Castellini ran out of patience and Krivsky ran out of time.
The Reds announced on Wednesday that Krivsky was out as GM and that Jocketty will take over as president of baseball operations and general manager.
Jocketty and Castellini are scheduled to hold a 4 p.m. ET press conference at Great American Ball Park.
"We had a lousy season last year and we're starting this season not very well," Castellini told MLB.com by phone. "We felt it was time for a change."
Krivsky was Castellini and the new ownership regime's first significant hire when he replaced Dan O'Brien on Feb. 8, 2006. Krivsky previously served as an assistant GM with the Twins for 11 years. He was in the last season of a three-year contract with Cincinnati.
The Reds went 80-82 in Krivsky's first season but slipped to 72-90 in 2007. This season, Cincinnati has a 9-12 record.
Castellini informed Krivsky of his decision on Wednesday morning.
"He gave us 110 percent," Castellini said. "He is an outstanding baseball man and it's difficult to lose somebody like him."
Krivsky drew praise quickly when he made shrewd acquisitions that brought in Brandon Phillips, Scott Hatteberg, Bronson Arroyo, David Ross and Josh Hamilton. But other efforts to turn the team into a quick contender backfired.
The most notorious trade occurred on July 13, 2006, when the Reds sent Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez to the Nationals in an eight-player deal that brought back Gary Majewski, Bill Bray, Royce Clayton, Brendan Harris and Daryl Thompson.
It was disclosed shortly after the trade that Majewski arrived with an injured shoulder, and he never fulfilled expectations. He and Bray are currently with Triple-A Louisville while Clayton and Harris are out of the organization. Thompson, with Double-A Chattanooga, is considered a rising prospect.
The signing of free agent reliever Mike Stanton to a two-year contract last year also didn't pan out. Stanton was released before this season opened and will be paid $3.5 million this year. Reliever Rheal Cormier ($2.5 million) was released early last season and infielder Juan Castro ($1.075 million) was designated for assignment on Monday.
Castellini said it wasn't absorbing contracts that got Krivsky dismissed.
"Frankly, I blame it on my own impatience," Castellini said. "I wouldn't say that it was a particular thing. We're not going to bat 1.000 [on acquisitions]. The results were not there."
Castellini said Jocketty was signed through the 2011 season.
Jocketty spent the previous 13 seasons as the Cardinals GM. They went to the postseason seven times and won the 2006 World Series during that time. Jocketty was named Major League Baseball's executive of the year by The Sporting News in 2000 and 2004 and by Baseball America in 2000.
In October, Jocketty and St. Louis mutually decided to part ways after a tumultuous 78-win season. He maintained a personal friendship with Castellini, who used to be a minority shareholder of the Cardinals.
On January 11, Jocketty was hired to be a special advisor who reported directly to Castellini. Although he made overtures that he wasn't interested in being a GM again right away, that's just what ended up happening on Wednesday.
Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB
Basically hearing that Krivsky couldn't get along with people and he wasn't a people person. Hopefully Jocketty won't ruin our farmsystem.
