NEW YORK -- Gordon Blakeley was promoted by the New York Yankees on Thursday to senior vice president of baseball operations after Mark Newman asked to be relieved of the role.

Newman, whose role on the organizational ladder was considered to be at the same level as general manager Brian Cashman, asked to step aside from day-to-day operations at the team's Tampa, Fla., complex.

Newman, in his 15th year with the team, will become vice president of player development, a role that may allow him to scout more -- and presumably be more distant from owner George Steinbrenner.

Blakeley, who had been vice president of international and professional scouting, was responsible for last month's signing of Cuban defector Jose Contreras.

"I sought a change in job description that would alleviate my administrative responsibilities and allow me to spend more time in the field evaluating our players as well as players from other organizations,'' Newman said in a statement.