NEW YORK -- When Kevin Towers' successful 14-year run as the Padres' general manager concluded prior to the 2010 season, Yankees GM Brian Cashman jumped at the opportunity to bring the respected executive into New York's front office as a special-assignment scout.
Cashman was not surprised when Towers' stay turned out to be brief. After that season, the D-backs named Towers as their GM, and he helped lead Arizona to a 29-game turnaround and a National League West title.
Towers passed away on Tuesday at the age of 56 after battling a rare form of thyroid cancer.