The Los Angeles Angels have fired their general manager after yet another disappointing season.
Billy Eppler was hired by the Los Angeles Angels to be their general manager back in 2015 with one sole purpose: build a winning team around Mike Trout to bring them to the playoffs. Through five years, the Angels never made it to the postseason and the big names he brought in did nothing to put the team over the edge in the tough AL West division. He was on the hot seat entering this season, so it’s no shock that we’re reporting the following news.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Angels have fired Eppler on Sunday following the team’s 5-0 loss to the cross-town Dodgers. Rosenthal’s colleague, Fabian Ardaya, reported that the Angels actually gave Eppler a one-year contract extension this summer, meaning that the team will be paying him for the 2021 season.
Angels never had a winning record under Eppler
Eppler’s goal was to build a powerhouse lineup around Trout to make up for their lack of quality pitching. The former assistant general manager of the New York Yankees traded for big bats like outfielder Justin Upton and shortstop Andrelton Simmons, while paying big money to third baseman Anthony Rendon this past winter. Those bats just weren’t enough.
The Angels were able to land the big fish in Shohei Ohtani in hopes of him becoming their ace. However, countless injuries have prevented the Japanese superstar from taking the mound for a full season, thus limiting him to designated hitter duties throughout his MLB career. Eppler did swing a trade for Dylan Bundy from the Baltimore Orioles this past offseason, and it worked out relatively well, as he posted a 6-3 record and 3.29 ERA. Yet, it was not enough, as the Angels finished with a 26-34 record in the 2020 truncated season.
Los Angeles has never had a winning campaign under Eppler, with his best season-long record coming in 2017, when the team finished 80-82. Overall, the Angels built a 332-376 record under Eppler.
With Eppler being shown the door, all eyes will be on Dave Dombrowski, who has been rumored to be his replacement this past week.