WASHINGTON -- The Padres will begin their search for a new team president immediately, but there is no conclusive timetable for a potential hire, according to sources with the team.
The process to replace Mike Dee could run throughout the offseason, with one source saying the Padres are "not in a big hurry" and that they'll take all the time they need to make sure they have the right candidate.
On Wednesday, the Padres parted ways with Dee, who had served as President and CEO in San Diego for just over three years. It's unclear if the role the club is looking to fill will differ from the one held by Dee, but the Padres will use his departure as a chance to re-evaluate the specifics of the position.
There's at least one change that appears highly probable: General manager A.J. Preller is likely to report directly to the ownership group in the future (instead of to the team president, as was the case with Dee). The Padres will embark on their search with that structure as the goal, but they could alter it depending on who is hired.
It also appears as though Preller's job is safe, despite his current 30-game suspension. The third-year general manager, who was hired by Dee in 2014, was suspended last month after the Padres withheld medical information in the trade of Drew Pomeranz to the Red Sox.
Preller will remain in his role as the head of baseball-related decisions for the Padres; the new team president will not encroach upon that. However, the team is currently also searching for a separate candidate to oversee the medical side of things for the team -- including records keeping, which got Preller and the organization in hot water earlier this year.