Nationals name Bob Miller vice president and assistant general manager

The Washington Nationals welcomed Bob Miller to their front office staff today, naming him Vice President and Assistant General Manager. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Miller, who will assist in all facets of baseball operations, comes to the Nationals after nine seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, serving most recently as Vice President and Assistant General Manager to Reds' President of Baseball Operations and GM Walt Jocketty. In that role, Miller had a hand in all aspects of baseball operations, including arbitration cases, contract negotiations, rules, player evaluations, and departmental budgeting. Joining the Nationals for his 33rd season in professional baseball, Miller reunites with Rizzo for the first time since the two worked together for seven years with the Arizona Diamondbacks. There they helped build the 2001 World Series championship team, and take Arizona's Minor League system from No. 29 (as ranked by Baseball America) to No. 1 in five years. Miller, who initially joined the Reds in Feb., 2006, as Director of Baseball Administration under then-GM Wayne Krivsky, quickly moved through the ranks in Cincinnati. He was promoted to Assistant General Manager in June of 2006 and in Dec., 2006, was named Vice President and Assistant GM. During his time with the Reds, the team improved from a sub-.500 club to win two division championships and earn three playoff appearances. In 2012, the Reds were also named Baseball America's Organization of the Year. Prior to joining the Reds, Miller spent seven seasons with the Diamondbacks - first as Assistant Director of Scouting, then Director of Baseball Operations, and the final three as Assistant General Manager, where he oversaw the organization's Minor League player development from 2004-05. In 2005, the Diamondbacks were named TOPPS' Minor League Organization of the Year. Miller joined the Diamondbacks with 16 years of Minor League experience on his resume, including 14 years at the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, and stops as Vice President of Baseball Operations in the independent Texas-Louisiana League office, along with serving as executive GM of that league's Amarillo Dillas club. Miller, 50, graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in finance.