Dipoto resigns as Angels GM amid feud with Scioscia; Stoneman named interim replacement
The power struggle between the Los Angeles Angels' front office and clubhouse has finally reached a conclusion: Jerry Dipoto confirmed he's stepping down as general manager of the team.
Wednesday's announcement ends a tumultuous three-and-a-half-year run in Los Angeles for Dipoto, whose departure was reportedly triggered by renewed hostilities between the 47-year-old executive and manager Mike Scioscia. The news broke just hours after a report from FOX Sports that said owner Arte Moreno was attempting to make peace between Scioscia and Dipoto.
Multiple reports say Dipoto packed up the belongings from his office Tuesday, less than 24 hours after Ken Rosenthal detailed an explosive meeting between the former GM and his manager inside the Angels clubhouse before Sunday's game.
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The report claimed Dipoto confronted Scioscia to express his frustration that the coaching staff hadn't relayed statistical information and analysis compiled by the front office to the players. Rosenthal said Albert Pujols was one of two people who challenged Dipoto, saying the coaches "are working as hard to prepare players as they did last season, but the roster is not nearly as strong."
According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, the tipping point for Dipoto came after approaching Moreno with an ultimatum that one league source said "backfired." Sources indicated to Crasnick that the Angels owner sided with the 56-year-old Scioscia, who has managed the club since 1999 and remains under contract through the 2018 season.
Despite a history of ongoing tension between Dipoto and Scioscia, the pair had seemingly worked to put the friction behind them en route to an MLB-best 98 wins in 2014. The Angels entered Wednesday as winners of four in a row, sitting just four games back in the West.
Dipoto, who was hired as GM after the 2011 season, was behind the two biggest free-agent signings in franchise history, inking Pujols to a 10-year, $240-million deal during his first offseason in the role and Josh Hamilton to a five-year, $125-million deal the following season.
Bill Stoneman, meanwhile, will take over as general manager in the interim. Stoneman previously served as Angels GM from 1999-2007, hiring Scioscia shortly after assuming control of the baseball operations department before guiding the club to a World Series championship in 2002.