After months of unpaid suspension, Larry Baer returns to Giants front office

The Giants board of directors announced Saturday the team’s CEO and president Larry Baer will return to the organization Tuesday after completing an unpaid suspension dating back to March 4, during which time he was prohibited from participating in any team operations as dictated by Major League Baseball in the aftermath of a physical altercation with his wife caught on video outside a Hayes Valley coffee shop March 1.

Baer’s return will be gradual, according to a statement from the board of directors, and with his return comes a reconstitution of the power structure.

Rob Dean, who served as the Giant’s acting-CEO and MLB designated control person in dealings with the league in Baer’s absence, will retain the role of control person and will now also serve as chairman of the board of directors.

In a statement Saturday the board of directors said Dean will have significant involvement in the day-to-day operations of the team moving forward:

“Rob – along with Larry – will represent the club with MLB.  Rob will also, on behalf of ownership, collaborate with the executive leadership team on major organizational issues.  Keeping in line with industry standards, the president of baseball operations reports to the control person, and we will adopt that practice.”

Baer, who has been a part of the organization since 1992 when he went in with Peter Magowan to form a new ownership group in an effort to keep the team from leaving the state, underwent required counseling as part of MLB’s discipline this spring. In a statement Saturday he said he took the time off to reflect:

“While my time away has been difficult on many levels, it has allowed me opportunities for introspection and, with the help of some wonderful people, growth. I’ve been able to step back and take stock of myself as a person and as a leader. I am wiser for it, and the work continues. The journey of self-discovery, like so much in life, is ongoing and never-ending.”

Julie Parker is SFBay’s San Francisco Giants beat writer. Follow @SFBay and @InsideThePark3r on Twitter and at SFBay.ca for full coverage of Giants baseball.