Angels GM Search: Latest News, Rumors, Speculation Surrounding Vacant Position

The Los Angeles Angels have been without an official general manager since Jerry DiPoto stepped down in July, but with the season winding down, the search to fill the position is expected to pick up. 

Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reported the team is "hopeful" it will name its new GM by the end of the 2015 season. 

Continue for updates. 

---

Eppler to Interview with Angels; Club Favors Yankees Assistant GM

Wednesday, Sept. 9

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported New York Yankees assistant general manager Billy Eppler was granted permission to interview with both the Angels and the Seattle Mariners. 

On Sept. 4, ESPN's Buster Olney reported Eppler is "expected to be a strong front-runner" for the Angels' general manager position. 

The Angels know Eppler well, dating back to 2011, when the team hired DiPoto, as noted by Rosenthal:

Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reported on Sept. 1 the Angels had finished conducting interviews with internal candidates Matt Klentak and Scott Servais and were preparing to interview additional candidates from outside the organization. 

After losing out to DiPoto for the Angels' GM job in 2011, Eppler was promoted to his current role with the Yankees by general manager Brian Cashman.

DiPoto resigned from the position this summer, in part due to a contentious relationship with Angels manager Mike Scioscia, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. Bill Stoneman, who was the team's general manager from 1999 to 2007, has taken over the role on an interim basis. 

The Angels are in a unique position to attract whomever they want to hire as general manager. Ownership has spent at least $137 million on payroll in each of the previous five seasons, per Cot's Baseball Contracts, and the team has reigning American League MVP Mike Trout signed through 2020. 

Any GM candidate would love to work for an owner who isn't afraid to spend money for a championship—not to mention having arguably the best player in the sport to build around.

This has been a difficult season for the Angels on and off the field, but there's a lot to work with heading into 2016.