Arizona Diamondbacks hire Dave Stewart as GM, De Jon Watson as assistant.

The Dodgers lost their assistant general manager of player development, and Matt Kemp and Chad Billingsley lost their agent, to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday.

De Jon Watson will join new general manager Dave Stewart in the Diamondbacks’ front office, which was widely reported Wednesday but did not become official until today.

Watson joined the Dodgers in 2006 as director of player development and was promoted to assistant general manager for player development in 2007. He was responsible for developing and evaluating all players in the Dodgers’ minor league system, appointing all minor league managers and coaching staff, as well as all coordinator and instructor positions. He also oversaw winter ball participation, Latin American player development and relationships between the Dodgers and their minor league affiliates.

Watson was the Reds’ scouting director from 1998-2000 and the director of professional scouting for the Indians from 2004-06. His new title with the Diamondbacks: Senior vice president of baseball operations.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to be a part of a very special team that Tony (La Russa) has put together,” Watson said in a statement. “I could not pass up the chance to be part of a dynamic working group and impact this organization in a way that helps us improve the way we compete, with a goal of playing October baseball.”

“De Jon has great strengths in player development and scouting on the amateur, professional and international levels and has played a significant role in the careers of some of the game’s best players,” La Russa said.

Kemp has consistently voiced his support for Stewart; so did Billingsley.

“I don’t know if I’ll stay with his company or whatever, or go my own separate way,” Billingsley said Wednesday. “It’s going to happen fast. It’ll work itself out.”

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About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.