Doug Melvin leaving as Brewers GM

Doug Melvin is leaving his job as general manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, turning over the task of rebuilding the last-place club to someone else.

The team and Melvin said Tuesday he will continue to lead the baseball operations department before "transitioning into an advisory role."

Owner Mark Attanasio has hired an executive search firm to help find a new general manager. Attanasio plans to begin asking for permission to interview candidates this week during the owners meeting in Chicago, the team said.

The Brewers are in last place in the NL Central and are in Chicago to start a three-game series with the Cubs.

Milwaukee is rebuilding after having traded veterans including Carlos Gomez, Aramis Ramirez and Gerardo Parra before the July 31 trade deadline. Melvin fired manager Ron Roenicke in May and replaced him with Craig Counsell.

The Brewers are 48-65, with the second-worst record in the NL. This follows the late-season collapse in 2014 when the Brewers fell out of first place and the playoff race.

Melvin joined the Brewers on Sept. 26, 2002 as the eighth general manager in the team's history. A team starving for success won the NL wild card in 2008 and the NL Central in 2011.

The following year, Melvin signed a contract extension keeping him with the team through this season. He was also promoted to president of baseball operations and general manager.

Now 63, Melvin apparently feels it's time to move on.

Before joining the Brewers, Melvin was general manager of the Texas Rangers from 1996-2001, with the Rangers making their first postseason appearance in his first year with the team.

Melvin's front-office career also includes seven years as a scout with the New York Yankees from 1979-85. He is one of five Canadians to serve as a major league general manager. As a player, Melvin pitched for six seasons in the minors with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Yankees.