Report: Thad Levine Candidate for Arizona GM Job

This afternoon, Jon Heyman has revealed that Rangers assistant GM Thad Levine is one of 10 candidates for the GM position for the Arizona Diamondbacks. According to Heyman, Tony LaRussa, Arizona's chief baseball officer, has called Texas to request permission to interview Levine.

Given that Texas has usually granted interview requests when it would result in a promotion, I'd imagine that they'll also grant this one. A front office environment that is conducive for promotions, whether that be internally or externally, is a good asset to have, so this could be the first of many GM interviews that Levine will have coming down the pipeline in upcoming years, and even that assumes that Levine doesn't land this job, one that Heyman says Dave Stewart is a current early favorite to land.

The front office has taken somewhat of a hit recently, with A.J. Preller going to San Diego and taking Don Welke with him. Losing another high-ranking member of the front office could certainly sting, and the effects would certainly be felt on some level, but for an organization that has found itself deep with talented baseball minds, it provides opportunities for new voices to step up.

I'm sure we'll hear a lot more on this in the coming weeks, as it's likely that Arizona will want to get someone in the office in time for the baseball offseason.