Diamondbacks Farm Director Joins White Sox Front Office

Josh Barfield will serve as an assistant general manager under Chris Getz in Chicago.

With the Diamondbacks looking like a team on the rise, with their young core pushing them to playoff contention just two years after losing 110 games, other teams have begun to take notice. That means a lot of the top executives in the D-backs Front Office are being looked at to fill key positions in other team's baseball operations departments. The first domino dropped this week as D-backs Director of Player Development, Josh Barfield, will join the Chicago White Sox front office as an assistant GM under Chris Getz.

It comes as no surprise that Barfield, 40, was considered by the White Sox as a top assistant. He originally played in the MLB for four seasons from 2006-09 before retiring in 2012. Originally hired as a scout in 2016, he quickly ascended the organizational ladder in the player development department. In 2019 he was named the team's farm director after his predecessor, Mike Bell, left to be Derek Shelton's bench coach in Pittsburgh. He's done quite well working in that role. Under Barfield, Arizona sent Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas, Jake McCarthy, Ryne Nelson, Jordan Lawlar, and Geraldo Perdomo among others to the big leagues.

Barfield is not the only executive that was rumored for a job opening, as GM Mike Hazen was linked to the Red Sox's recent opening for Chief Baseball Officer after they fired Chaim Bloom. Amiel Sawdaye, Hazen's top lieutenant, should get a look for potential GM openings across the league as well. Back in 2020, Sawdaye was a finalist for the Los Angeles Angels General Manager position that eventually went to Perry Minasian. The Athletic wrote that Sawdaye could be a person of interest to replace Chaim Bloom as the GM of the Red Sox.

Another executive who could be looked at by other organizations is Ian Rebhan. He's the current Director of Amateur Scouting and runs the draft for the D-backs. With how successful their recent drafts have been, Rebhan could be promoted within the D-backs' organization or poached away for a higher position.

It's unknown who will be replacing Barfield until the season and likely post-season is over. The team has been known to promote from within for a lot of positions, but it can't be ruled out that they go outside the organization. Rebhan or another person could be promoted or switched to that area of focus too.

For now, the Arizona Diamondbacks will wish Josh Barfield well in his future position. Coincidentally, the D-backs play the Chicago White Sox in a series with large playoff implications for them. The MLB hiring season has fully begun and will continue for the next few months. Over that time, we will learn just who will be leaving the Arizona Diamondbacks front office and who will be sticking around for another season. Congratulations to Josh Barfield on his promotion and wish him well on his next adventure.