Could Larry Beinfest fit in an Angels’ search for general manager?
The Toronto Blue Jays are baseball’s most disappointing team. Their general manager will return next season.
The Philadelphia Phillies doubled down on expensive contracts for older players, then produced their worst season in 13 years. Their general manager will return.
The Seattle Mariners will finish fourth in the American League West for the fourth consecutive year. Their general manager will return.
The Angels? Owner Arte Moreno put General Manager Jerry Dipoto and Manager Mike Scioscia on notice last month, but he has not said a word since then. Neither Dipoto nor Scioscia knows whether he will be working for the Angels this time next week.
If Moreno is waiting to see who might become available, an intriguing name surfaced Friday, when the Miami Marlins fired Larry Beinfest, the longtime chief of baseball operations.
The Angels’ chances to contend next year hinge largely on their ability to build pitching depth on a budget, a trait for which Beinfest is renowned.
Many accomplished general managers might wonder whether they could prosper in Anaheim, with a hands-on owner and a manager with a 10-year contract, but Beinfest no doubt would prefer an owner whose idea of involvement is throwing money at Albert Pujols as compared with the owner of the Marlins, Jeffrey Loria, who has chased away Joe Girardi, personally selected coaches and vetoed minor league call-ups.
Moreno has a long memory. In 2007, he said he believed the Angels twice had a deal to acquire Miguel Cabrera from the Marlins, only to see the Marlins then come back and ask for more both times. Beinfest denied that allegation.
Beinfest grew up in Los Angeles, a member of a Chatsworth High team that played for the L.A. City Section championship at Dodger Stadium.
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