San Diego Padres fire general manager Josh Byrnes

The San Diego Padres are 32-44. They sit in fourth place in the National League West, 13.5 games behind the leading San Francisco Giants. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote that Padres general manager Josh Byrnes was on the hot seat, as a source told him that his relationship with the team deteriorated.  

The team relieved Byrnes of his duties as executive vice president and general manager today. Senior vice president of baseball operations Omar Minaya and assistant general managers AJ Hinch and Fred Uhlman Jr. will take the job on an interim basis.

Not many people would have thought Josh Byrnes as the first general manager to go this season. In fact, Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers, is on San Diego's radar, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Towers is under contract with the Diamondbacks through 2016, but he could be fired as well. The Diamondbacks have been unimpressive to begin the season, going 32-47.

Brynes was hired by the Padres back in 2010 as Vice President of Baseball Operations and was promoted to general manager in October of 2011. Since taking the helm as general manager, the Padres have not had a winning season. They finished 76-86 in both 2012 and 2013, and now are on pace for 68 wins, their worst total since 2008, when they went 63-99. They have scored the fewest runs in the majors. Just as the teams should be getting better, they are floundering. 

Here is an excerpt from the Padres official press release:

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“This ownership group is committed to fielding a team that consistently competes for postseason play,” said Padres President and CEO Mike Dee. “Thus far this season, the results on the field have been mixed at best and clearly have not lived up to expectations. After a lengthy evaluation of every facet of our baseball operations, we have decided to make this change today.”

“The search for a new General Manager begins immediately,” Dee said. “We are looking for someone who can define, direct and lead this franchise’s baseball philosophy for years to come.”