Angels fire Eppler after 5th consecutive losing season

The Los Angeles Angels have fired general manager Billy Eppler following the team's fifth consecutive losing season with him at the helm.

Eppler took over the GM role before the 2016 season. The Angels have not made the postseason since 2014.

The Angels have made splashy offseason moves in recent winters under Eppler, memorably recruiting top international free agent Shohei Ohtani before the 2019 season, while also landing Anthony Rendon on a seven-year, $245-million contract this past offseason.

With the postseason's expansion including eight teams from each league this year, the Angels - led by AL MVP favorite Mike Trout - were expecting to be huge benefactors.

However, the personnel moves and the expanded playoff structure did not create a different result for the Angels, with the team going 26-34 in 2020, finishing fourth, and missing October baseball for the sixth straight year - fifth under Eppler.

Eppler originally joined the club after GM Jerry Dipoto resigned after an impasse with team owner Arte Moreno.