The Los Angeles Dodgers have hired away a high-ranking executive from the San Diego Padres to be the team’s new executive vice president and chief operating officer.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Dodgers have hired Caroline Perry from their NL West rivals. Perry worked as a member of the Padres organization for the past 16 years and was the highest-ranking female employee of the team, Nightengale said.
The team later confirmed the hiring with an article on MLB.com.
Perry joins Los Angeles just days after the team announced that Bob Wolfe would be retiring at the end of the year.
Wolfe has worked as a sports executive for more than four decades, including 14 years within the Dodgers organization. He spent the last five years as the team’s chief operating officer. Team president and CEO Stan Kasten said Wolfe would retire from his day-to-day job and assume an advisory role.
Dodgers hire Caroline Perry from the Padres
Perry most recently served as the Padres’ chief operating officer and will join the Dodgers in the same role, but with the expanded responsibilities and added title of executive vice president.
According to the Athletic, Perry served as the de facto No. 3 in the organization behind only CEO Erik Greupner and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller.
She joined the Padres at the same time as Greupner, who was originally hired as the team’s general counsel. Perry was later named COO overseeing business administration in addition to being the team’s general counsel.
Read More: How much money could Tarik Skubal get in free agency?
In addition to Perry’s hiring, L.A. is also promoting within.
Senior vice president of business strategy Royce Cohen is being promoted to executive vice president and chief business officer. Cohen has been with the team since 2014, according to the team announcement on MLB.com.
The hiring comes amid a period of uncertainty around the Dodgers’ business structure as owner Mark Walter finds himself embroiled in a government probe that has led him to sell his business stakes in other sports franchises.
Despite the feds taking a deep dive into his finances, Walter told the California Post last week that he has no intentions of selling the team.
Read More: Dodgers owner has no plans to sell despite ongoing government probe
Instead, the team is focusing on MLB free agency, which began Monday afternoon. The Dodgers have several big name players on the market this winter, including prized starting pitcher Tarik Skubal, beloved utility man Kiké Hernández and trusted high-leverage reliever Alex Vesia.
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