MILWAUKEE, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The Milwaukee Brewers continued revamping their front office Friday, naming Gord Ash assistant general manager and Reid Nichols special assistant to the general manager.
After completing their 10th consecutive losing season with a 56-106 record, the worst mark in franchise history, the Brewers hired Doug Melvin as general manager and Ulice Payne as the first black club president in baseball history.
Melvin, who replaced Dean Taylor and named Ned Yost to replace manager Jerry Royster on Tuesday, hired Ash based on a recommendation by Seattle Mariners executive vice president and general manager Pat Gillick.
Ash served as Gillick's assistant general manager with the Toronto Blue Jays from 1989-1994, working closely with him as the Blue Jays won consecutive World Series titles in 1992 and 1993. He succeeded Gillick until the conclusion of the 2001 season before being replaced by J.P. Ricciardi following his fifth losing season with the Blue Jays.
Ash, 50, is replacing David Wilder, who was re-assigned within the organization as a special assignment scout. He will assist with day-to-day baseball operations and will be involved in Milwaukee's strategic planning and implementation of programs in all baseball areas.
