Malone Hires Geivett as Assistant

Dodger General Manager Kevin Malone officially added the first member to his new management team, hiring Bill Geivett as an assistant to the general manager, the club announced Friday.

Geivett, 35, had been a special assistant to the general manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for the last two years. He served as director of player development for the Montreal Expos from 1994-96, including one year while Malone was the Expos’ baseball-operations chief.

With the Dodgers, Geivett will be involved in domestic and international scouting and development, as well as assisting Malone in a variety of special projects. Geivett is pleased to be reunited with his longtime friend and former boss, and eager to help rebuild the Dodgers.

“There are some challenges, but there is also a lot of tradition and history of very high standards,” Geivett said during a phone interview from his home in Tampa. “To be chosen as one of the caretakers of that, that’s something I’d like to be part of.

“Through my time in baseball, I’ve done a lot of things, especially since I’ve been here [in Tampa Bay]. That’s what I like to do. Wherever Kevin needs me, that is where I will be.”

Geivett will assume a major role, Malone said.

“The Dodgers have taken a major step forward,” said Malone, who is accompanying the Dodgers on the trip. “He’s a major cog in the wheel for us to role in the right direction.

“He’s not only a quality person, but he’s talented and has a commitment to succeed. He just sees the game from a unique perspective.”

Geivett has strong ties to the Southland, growing up in Huntington Beach and attending UC Santa Barbara. Geivett, an All-American third baseman at Santa Barbara, was the Angels’ 13th-round selection in the 1985 draft.

He suffered a career-ending knee injury while playing for the Angels’ double-A farm club in 1988.

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Malone is moving quickly to complete his front-office staff, seeking to hire many of his trusted former colleagues with the Expos.

As for on-field changes, Malone is still evaluating Manager Glenn Hoffman and his staff. Malone isn’t expected to make a decision on Hoffman’s future until the season ends.

“Glenn is a good young manager, and he’s done a good job under tough conditions,” Malone said. “As of right now, Glenn is the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he will manage in 1999 unless a change is made.”

DODGERS’

ISMAEL VALDES

(10-9, 3.86 ERA)

vs.

GIANTS’

RUSS ORTIZ

(2-4, 5.19 ERA)

3Com Park, 1 p.m.

TV--Channel 11. Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Update--Valdes is 4-0 with a 2.75 earned-run average in his last six starts. The Dodgers are 6-0 during that span. “I feel like I’m getting stronger,” said Valdes, who missed six starts with a strained stomach muscle. “My arm feels good, but I don’t feel like I’m sharp. I think that will take time.”