Gerry Hunsicker, formerly the Senior Vice President, Baseball Operations, for the Tampa Bay Rays, has been hired by the Los Angeles Dodgers as a Senior Advisor.

The Rays brought in Hunsicker in 2005 as a proponent of the team's new management look that ultimately helped the Rays turn into one of the more successful organizations in Major League Baseball.

Hunsicker brings immediate expertise to a Dodgers staff that has little in the international scouting and development arena.

Hunsicker's success in Tampa Bay hasn't escaped him. He said he will "forever cherish" the success he has had with the Rays and that he decided, "that it was time to look for another challenge.

The Rays will lose a key player in their franchise's turnaround. Andrew Friedman, the team's executive vice president, said Hunsicker would be greatly missed.

"I am extremely grateful for all he has done for me and the Rays organization," Friedman said. "He has been instrumental in the growth and development of our department, and I am proud of the successes we have enjoyed together."

Stan Kasten, the new Dodgers president, said Hunsicker will "help restore the Dodgers to the pre-eminent organization in baseball. The Tampa Bay faithful have no doubts of that and wish Hunsicker well with his endeavour.

Quotes from Tampa Bay Times Staff Writer Marc Topkin were used in this report. Check HERE for the original story by Topkin.