Angels expand GM search to 14 candidates
The Angels are casting a wide net in their search for a new general manager, as the club has interviewed 14 known candidates for the position.
The latest GM candidates to emerge via various reports include former Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr., former Giants GM Bobby Evans, the Brewers' Matt Arnold, the Mariners' Justin Hollander and the Royals' J.J. Picollo, Scott Sharp and Gene Watson. That’s in addition to the previously reported interviews with the Cubs' Jason McLeod, the Padres' Logan White, the A's Billy Owens, the Nationals’ Dan Jennings, former Marlins GM Michael Hill and the D-backs' Jared Porter and Amiel Sawdaye.
The Angels have not confirmed any interviews throughout the process.
The Angels remain on target to make a hire by Thanksgiving, as stated by club president John Carpino. But the club will be doing it without the help of assistant general managers Jonathan Strangio and Steve Martone, who both left the organization after their contracts expired on Friday. Tony La Russa also left the organization to become the manager of the White Sox. Longtime Angels executive Bill Stoneman is helping run the search with owner Arte Moreno and Carpino.
The club is expected to wrap up the first round of GM interviews early this week and could interview up to 20 candidates, per MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal.
Amaro was GM of the Phillies from 2008-15, helping lead them to three NL East titles and to the '09 World Series, which Philadelphia lost in six games to the Yankees. He also has ties to the Angels, as he was a Minor Leaguer in the organization in the 1980s, when manager Joe Maddon was coaching in the Minors. Amaro also was first-base coach for the Mets in '18, when current Angels pitching coach Mickey Callaway was the manager.
Evans has 26 years of experience with the Giants, including serving as general manager of the club from 2015-18. He was part of the front office when they won World Series titles in '10, ‘12 and ’14.
Arnold has spent five years with the Brewers after spending the previous nine seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays. He has a background in baseball operations, scouting and biomechanics.
Hollander previously worked for the Angels, as he spent nine years with the club under former GMs Tony Reagins and Jerry Dipoto. He followed Dipoto to Seattle when he took the Mariners GM job in '15.
Picollo has been with the Royals since 2006, including serving as assistant GM when they won the World Series in '15. He also spent six years in the Braves' front office.
Sharp has been with Kansas City for 14 years and has a background in player development and Minor League operations. He also served as an area scout for eight years prior to joining the Royals.
Watson has also been with the Royals for 14 years and has spent the last three as the senior director of pro scouting. He previously was a scout for the Marlins, including when they won the World Series in 2003.