Thrift will be in charge of the Orioles' minor league operations.

However, after just one season, Padres management would fold the team and move much of their minor league operations to the west coast.

He worked for the Seattle Mariners as their director of minor league operations.

Before that, he was the team's director of minor league operations.

In October 2002, he was named the club's director of minor league operations.

He also negotiated television deals and became head of minor league operations.

Gebhard's front office career began with the Expos in 1976 as field director of minor league operations.

As in most minor league operations, the ball park and the community are closely knit.

That trend has created minor league operations the last two years in what would be considered the fringe of the New York market.

Steve Phillips, the organization's director of minor league operations since 1991, was promoted to assistant general manager.