D'backs part ways with Watson; La Russa says he may be next
PHOENIX (AP) The Arizona Diamondbacks are parting with senior vice president of baseball operations De Jon Watson, and chief baseball officer Tony La Russa says he and general manager Dave Stewart may also be fired after the season.
La Russa announced Watson's departure after a 10-9 win over the Dodgers on Sunday.
La Russa says he will meet with owner Ken Kendrick and president and CEO Derrick Hall eventually about his status. La Russa says ''if it gets turned over to the next person, you gladly turn it over'' because the team is more than 20 games under .500.
Arizona aggressively acquired pitchers Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller in the offseason, but the club is just one game out of last place in the NL West at 63-86. La Russa called himself ''the most responsible person'' for the disappointing season.
Watson was in his second season with the club and oversaw the franchise's player development and professional, amateur and international scouting departments.
