Padres introduce Hoyer as new GM

The San Diego Padres have introduced Jed Hoyer as their new general manager.

Hoyer, who had been assistant to Boston GM Theo Epstein, was hired to replace Kevin Towers, who was fired during the last weekend of the season.

Padres vice chairman and CEO Jeff Moorad said Hoyer is highly respected in baseball and is the right person to lead the Padres.

Moorad has said he wants a more "strategic approach" from his GM. Towers was known more as a seat-of-the-pants GM who built four NL West winners during his 14 seasons as GM, and had his 1998 club reach the World Series, where it was swept by the Yankees.