Stewart Leaves Padres for Jays

TORONTO--Dave Stewart, who as pitching coach helped lead San Diego to the World Series, is leaving the Padres to become assistant general manager with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The move, announced yesterday, returns Stewart to a team he pitched for in 1993 and 1994. The franchise is now clouded by uncertainty, its budget a question mark and its lease with the SkyDome in limbo.

Stewart, however, said he liked Toronto as a city and viewed the new job as ideal for learning the management skills that will help him move up the front-office ladder.

"None of those questions were even a topic for me in coming here," Stewart said of the Jays' off-field problems. "My biggest concern was wanting to learn the job of a general manager."

Stewart, 41, also talked with the Oakland Athletics and considered an offer from Florida.