Cox Set to Join Atlanta as GM

Bobby Cox, who managed the Toronto Blue Jays to the championship of the American League East this season, will be named general manager of the Atlanta Braves today, sources in both organizations confirmed Monday night.

Cox, the sources said, has agreed to a five-year contract at $400,000 per year. The salary is believed to be the highest for any general manager in baseball and represents a surprise in two ways:

--Atlanta owner Ted Turner, who will pay the salary, fired Cox as his field manager after the 1981 season, the fourth for Cox at the Braves’ helm.

--Turner gave former Pittsburgh Manager Chuck Tanner a five-year contract as field manager last week. The agreement reportedly gave Tanner front office authority, as well, and resulted in a demotion for then general manager John Mullen.

“This organization is the only one I would have left Toronto for,” Cox said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press Monday night. “Atlanta’s my home and I’ll be able to spend more time with my family.”

Cox lives in Marietta, Ga., near Atlanta.

Cox said his decision wasn’t in retaliation against Toronto’s policy of awarding only one-year contracts.

“The one-year contract with the Blue Jays always seemed like a 10-year contract. That’s how much faith I had in the organization and confidence in our ball club.

“It came down . . . it’s my home and gives me some time to spend with my family. I felt very, very secure with the Blue Jay organization.”

Tanner, contacted in St. Louis by Atlanta TV station WAGA, said that Mullen, a Braves vice president, would remain as co-general manager.

The Atlanta Constitution said Mullen will be responsible for the technical paperwork matters involved in contracts and player moves, leaving Cox free to handle player-personnel activities.

The source close to the Toronto club said that Jimy Williams, the Toronto third-base coach for the last six years, is the leading candidate to succeed Cox as Blue Jay manager.

In another managerial development, it was learned that Joe Torre, who was a color commentator this year on Angel telecasts, will be interviewed today for Tanner’s vacated position at Pittsburgh. The Pirates have also received permission from the St. Louis Cardinals to talk to former Angel manager Jim Fregosi, who has managed the Cardinals Louisville farm club for the last three years.