*Red Sox name Lee Thomas to front office post*

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The Boston Red Sox today named former Philadelphia Phillies
general manager Lee Thomas a special assistant to general
manager Dan Duquette. 

The 62-year-old Thomas, who was fired by the Phillies on
December 9th after 10 years with the team, will be responsible
for talent evaluation at the major league level while serving as
an adviser on trades. 

Thomas also will work at the Triple-A level and assist Duquette
on pro scouting.  A former Red Sox player in the mid-1960s,
Thomas will attend the team's major league training camp in Ft.
Myers, Florida, and periodically will be with the big-league
club during the season. 

"Lee is a solid veteran baseball man and we are pleased he is
joining the Red Sox staff," said Duquette.  "His knowledge and
experience will be an asset to our ballclub as he works closely
with myself and our top baseball people." 

The chief architect of the 1993 National League champions,
Thomas was named major league executive of the year after the
Phillies became just the third team in major league history to
go from last place to first. 

He made trades to acquire All-Stars Lenny Dykstra and John Kruk
and pitcher Curt Schilling.  Thomas also supervised the 1993
amateur draft in which Philadelphia selected third baseman Scott
Rolen, the 1997 National League Rookie of the Year. 

Thomas joined the Phillies after 18 years with the St. Louis
Cardinals. He enjoyed an eight-year career as an
outfielder-first baseman with the New York Yankees, California
Angels, Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros
from 1961-68.