Baseball notes: Diamondbacks fire General Manager Kevin Towers

The Arizona Diamondbacks fired General Manager Kevin Towers in the midst of a third straight disappointing season.

Towers became Arizona’s general manager in 2010 and put together a roster that won 94 games and the NL West in 2011. The Diamondbacks have backpedaled since then, finishing .500 the past two seasons and struggling this year despite having the highest payroll in franchise history.

Towers’ firing comes four months after the Diamondbacks hired Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa as chief baseball officer.

“Over the past three months, I have had the opportunity to evaluate all aspects of our baseball operations and have decided to restructure our staff in order to improve our decision-making process,” La Russa said. “I have the utmost respect for Kevin and a friendship with him that dates back many years which has allowed me to appreciate his talents and experience.”

Towers was hired in 2010 after 14 seasons as the San Diego Padres’ general manager. He had almost immediate success, pulling off all the right moves to help Arizona win the 2011 NL West crown, its first division title since 2007.

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The California Highway Patrol says San Diego Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera was arrested for investigation of driving under the influence of marijuana. Cabrera is on the disabled list because of a hamstring injury. ... Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, set to retire at the end of the season, is out indefinitely because of a broken bone in his left hand. The six-time All-Star is 41st on the career home run list with 439.