Report: Dipoto 'definitely out' as GM of Angels

The power struggle between Jerry Dipoto and Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia reportedly has reached a breaking point. ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports that two of his sources say Dipoto is “definitely out” as general manager after he submitted his resignation. Crasnick adds that the club has yet to confirm, and Dipoto did not respond to texts seeking comment.

Jerry Dipoto reportedly is ‘definitely’ not the Angels’ GM anymore. (USATSI)

The news is not all that surprising, given Scioscia’s stature with the team and in the league over the past 16 seasons as Angels manager, in addition to the events reported over the past 24-48 hours. Dipoto has been GM since October 2011, with the Angels hiring him away from the Diamondbacks organization.

Crasnick refers to Rosenthal’s report at Fox Sports about the differences of opinion between Dipoto and Scoscia that preceded Angels coaches defying the front office by not utilizing scouting information intended for the players. Rosenthal also suggested that slugger Albert Pujols stood with the coaching staff and against Dipoto’s front office. The rift between Dipoto and Scioscia goes back to 2012, at least, when the Angels fired coach Mickey Hatcher, a longtime Scioscia confidant. With AL MVP Mike Trout leading the way, the Angels won 98 games in 2014, which covered up the Dipoto-Scioscia fault, but did not seal it. They’re 41-37 and four games behind the Astros in the AL West.

If Rosenthal’s report was accurate, and if Dipoto went to Angels owner Arte Moreno with “an ultimatum,” it doesn’t sound as though he liked what ownership told him. And, possibly the other way around. Rosenthal followed up his initial report with another, saying Dipoto had cleaned out his office, according to two sources.

Pujols was angry before the Angels played on Tuesday at whomever leaked details of team meetings to the media. Via the Los Angeles Times:

“Whoever leaked that story, it’s really embarrassing, because we’re supposed to be family here,” Pujols said before Tuesday night’s 2-1 victory over the New York Yankees in Angel Stadium. “I don’t know how that information got out.”

That information could lead to a seismic shift in the Angels’ front office, with Dipoto possibly stepping down as GM.

Which reportedly has happened. This was not a fight Dipoto was going to win, but there are only 30 MLB GM jobs, so even if his relationship with Scioscia was strained and toxic, it made sense for him to give it one more try with Moreno. Ownership, it appears, sided with Scioscia.

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