51s manager Mills resigns for Expos’ job

Thursday, Dec. 19, 2002 | 9:22 a.m.

It was only last month that Brad Mills told reporters he was in no hurry to get to the major leagues, unless the right opportunity in the major leagues came along.

On Wednesday, it apparently did, as Mills unexpectedly resigned as Las Vegas 51s manager to accept a bench coaching job with the financially troubled Montreal Expos.

Mills, 45, will work under Expos field manager and baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson. He will be returning to the organization where he spent his entire big league playing career from 1980-83.

Less than three weeks ago, Mills turned down an offer to become minor league field coordinator for the Cleveland Indians and seemed content to return for a second season in Las Vegas where he piloted the 51s to a franchise record-tying 85 wins en route to the Pacific Coast League playoffs.

"I enjoy having my own team and being on the field," Mills told MLB.com. "A field coordinator is something I would like to do if something on the major league level does not open up for me.

"Right now, staying with a first-class organization like the Dodgers as a triple-A manager and being close to my home (Salinas, Calif.) was more attractive to me."

Mills was not available for comment today. 51s general manager Don Logan said he would begin working with the parent Dodgers immediately to find Mills' replacement.

Finding a new manager is getting to be routine for Las Vegas, although the timing of Mills' decision means the Dodgers won't have quite as much time to find his replacement.

Mills was Las Vegas' sixth manager in five years, succeeding Rick Sofield, Tony Franklin, Duane Espy, Mike Ramsey and Jerry Royster, whose four-year run as Las Vegas skipper ended in 1998.