By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Reds gave new general manager Dan O'Brien a three-year contract.

It sounds like it could take at least that long to turn the franchise around.

"We have a lot of work to do," O'Brien said. "The challenges are significant. We cannot and will not underestimate that."

O'Brien's remarks at his introductory press conference Monday sounded like an acceptance speech delivered by a polished politician. But the message was clear: The Reds aren't going for the quick fix. The emphasis will be on player development - not free agents.

O'Brien, 49, comes to the Reds from the Texas Rangers, where he was the assistant GM.

He takes over the Reds at one of the low points in the team's history. They are coming off a season in which they lost 93 games and traded top veterans Aaron Boone, Scott Williamson, Gabe White and Jose Guillen for younger, cheaper players.

The trades were Step 1 in the rebuilding process. Step 2 began Monday, when O'Brien took over as the club's 16th GM.

"The talent well is not dry," chief operating officer John Allen said. "Dan pointed out that we brought in a lot of additional talent. But it takes time to develop that talent."

O'Brien dodged a direct question about the mistakes made by the man he replaces, Jim Bowden.

But much of what he said was an indictment of the way Bowden did business.

"I feel we will have a plan that the fans can embrace going forward," O'Brien said. "Ideally, you like to be in a position to have success tomorrow. But it will never be at the price or risk of long-term success of the franchise."

That was not how Bowden operated. He often brought in older free agents - Deion Sanders, Jose Rijo - to try to win while rebuilding. That's over.

"One thing we won't be is haphazard in our approach," O'Brien said. "I can promise you that."

O'Brien was chosen over two other finalists - Montreal GM Omar Minaya and Minnesota assistant GM Wayne Krivsky.

Minaya, dubbed the favorite by the media, was not offered the job.

"I never got an offer," Minaya said. "I want to say the Reds made a very good choice in Dan O'Brien. It wasn't a fit for me."

O'Brien's background in player development and scouting set him apart.

"Dan had experience in both," Allen said. "We had a lot of strong candidates. It was a thorough process. But Dan had experience in both areas. There are some intangibles, also, but it wouldn't be fair to go into them."

Minaya did voice his concerns about the Reds' payroll in his second interview.

O'Brien wouldn't discuss what the Reds' payroll will likely be. He probably won't have a lot of money to spend on free agents. But he doesn't think money will necessarily keep the Reds from being competitive.

"I think there is a misunderstanding in this game that success of a club revolves around the Major League payroll," he said.

O'Brien's first order of business is hiring a manager. Interim manager Dave Miley will get an interview.

"We don't have a time frame," O'Brien said. "Obviously, that is the No. 1 decision that has to be made right now for this franchise. Dave has been with this organization for a long time. He is deserving of legitimate opportunity to interview."

O'Brien's recent history is with the Rangers. But he got the job by selling the Reds on the Houston Astros' model for success.

O'Brien worked for the Astros for 15 years before going to the Rangers in 1996.

"The Astros are an under-publicized model," he said. "I don't think people appreciate what they've accomplished since 1990. During that time period, they've had 10 winning seasons, three losing seasons, one .500 season, and they've made the playoffs four times."

Although Houston is the nation's fourth-largest city, the Astros did that by developing players - rather than spending like some big-market teams.

O'Brien worked in player development and scouting in Houston, eventually heading both departments. But he doesn't see himself as the guy who's going to find players.

"I'm very comfortable with my player-evaluation skills," he said. "But the key is managing people. Give them structure and a plan."

O'Brien met briefly with the baseball operations staff Monday.

The Reds have a lot of top people - assistant GM Leland Maddox, player development director Tim Naehring and special assistants Johnny Almaraz, Al Goldis, Larry Barton Jr. and Gene Bennett - under contract. Allen said O'Brien will hire some of his own people, but that number has not been set. Personnel currently in place could see their jobs change.

"As a staff, we will work together as a unit to accomplish the very best we can," O'Brien said.

That would be another difference from the Bowden era, when there were factions in the baseball operations staff.

O'Brien spent 11 years as a youngster living in Columbus.

"If I could pick any of the 30 GM jobs in baseball, this would be it," he said. "I'm very comfortable here. I grew up a Reds fans. You don't often get to choose your destinations. I went other places. I've come full circle. I'm back home."

The O'Brien file

Position: 16th general manager in Reds history.

Age: 49

Education: Graduated from Rollins College with a double major in business and economics. Earned a Rhodes Scholar nomination. Master's degree from Ohio University in sports administration.

Family: Married for 24 years to Gail. No children. Gail is a Miami University and Ohio State law school grad. She's been a professor in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Department at the University of Texas-Arlington since 1997.

Athletic career: Played baseball at Rollins. Did not play professionally.

Like father: His father, also Dan, is a long-time baseball executive.

Career path: Started in sales with expansion Seattle Mariners in 1977. Spent 15 years with the Houston Astros, rising to director of scouting and player development. Has been with the Rangers since 1996.

Ohio connection: Lived in Columbus from 1962 to 1973.

Memory of first trip to Crosley Field to see the Reds: "Red. A sea of Red. What I remember is energy level, the passion of the fans."

GMs By Tenure

• John Schuerholz, Braves,10/10/90

• Terry Ryan, Twins,10/16/92

• Walt Jocketty, Cardinals,9/13/94

• Joe Garagiola Jr., D'backs, 10/14/94

• Chuck LaMar, Devil Rays, 7/19/95

• Gerry Hunsicker, Astros, 11/10/95

• Kevin Towers, Padres, 11/17/95

• Brian Sabean, Giants, 9/30/96

• Billy Beane, A's, 10/17/97

• Ed Wade, Phillies, 12/9/97

• Brian Cashman, Yankees, 2/3/98

• Dan O'Dowd, Rockies, 9/20/99

• Bill Stoneman, Angels,11/1/99

• Allard Baird, Royals, 6/17/00

• Ken Williams, White Sox, 10/24/00

• Dave Littlefield, Pirates, 7/13/01

• Dan Evans, Dodgers, 10/3/01

• John Hart, Rangers, 11/1/01

• Mark Shapiro, Indians, 11/1/01

• David Dombrowski, Tigers, 11/5/01

• J.P. Ricciardi, Blue Jays, 11/14/01

• Larry Beinfest, Marlins, 2/12/02

• Omar Minaya, Expos, 2/12/02

• Jim Hendry, Cubs, 7/5/02

• Doug Melvin, Brewers, 9/25/02

• Theo Epstein, Red Sox, 11/25/02

• Jim Beattie/Mike Flanagan, Orioles, 12/4/02

• Jim Duquette, Mets, 6/12/03 *

• Dan O'Brien, Reds, 10/27/03

VACANT

Seattle Mariners

* - Duquette was named the Mets interim general manager when Steve Phillips was fired in June.

Recent finishes

Here's a look at the Reds' performance under their past three general managers:

Jim Bowden

Year	W-L	Finish
2003	69-93	Fifth Place
2002	78-84	Third Place
2001	66-96	Fifth Place
2000	85-77	Second Place
1999	96-67	Second Place
1998	77-85	Fourth Place
1997	76-86	Third Place
1996	81-81	Third Place
1995	85-59	First Place
1994	66-48	First Place
1993	73-89	Fifth Place

Bob Quinn

Year	W-L	Finish
1992	90-72	Second Place
1991	74-88	Fifth Place
1990	91-71	First Place

Murray Cook

Year	W-L	Finish
1989	75-87	Fifth Place
1988	87-74	Second Place
1987	84-78	Second Place

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E-mail jfay@enquirer.com