The next Angels general manager probably will come from outside the organization, and the dismissal Monday of longtime assistant GM Ken Forsch and special assistant Gary Sutherland, whose contracts were not renewed, is an indication that owner Arte Moreno is looking for the kind of "fresh perspective" outgoing GM Tony Reagins said the team needs.
But if the Angels do fill the position from within, the two leading candidates appear to be Gary DiSarcina, the former shortstop who is a special assistant to the GM, and Tory Hernandez, the team's manager of baseball operations.
"Would I be interested? Yes, if the Angels were interested in me, but we're not there yet," DiSarcina said. "Honestly, I'm interested in helping the organization whatever way I can."
DiSarcina, the Angels shortstop from 1992-2000, just completed his first year as a special assistant to Reagins. His primary job was to evaluate players and coaches throughout the organization, from the big league team down to the rookie league teams.
DiSarcina worked in the Boston Red Sox organization, managing the Class-A Lowell Spinners for three years (2007-2009) and serving as the club's minor league infield instruction coordinator in 2010 before returning to the Angels. He has no front-office experience but doesn't think that should preclude him from consideration.
"Are we ever ready for anything?" DiSarcina said. "You don't go to college to study to be a GM. If they're interested, I'd be interested. I will do what they want me to do. No one has said a word to me about it. It's kind of fluid right now."
Hernandez, 33, just completed his fourth season as manager of baseball operations after spending the previous three years (2005-2007) as the organization's player performance analyst. He is a creative thinker with a background in both scouting and the advanced statistical analysis preferred by many young GMs and assistants.
There should be no shortage of outside candidates for the job. Former Arizona GM Josh Byrnes, now senior vice president of baseball operations for the San Diego Padres, said he would be interested, as did Dan Evans, the former Dodgers GM who is working as an agent.
Oakland assistant GM David Forst and Chicago White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn both declined to comment, but both are believed to be very interested.
Among the other possible candidates are Arizona assistant GM Jerry Dipoto, Texas assistant GM Thad Levine, Detroit assistant GM Al Avila, Boston assistant GM Ben Cherrington and former Houston GM Gerry Hunsicker, now vice president of baseball operations in Tampa Bay.
If either of two big-name, established GMs--Boston's Theo Epstein and the New York Yankees' Brian Cashman--become available and express an interest in coming to Anaheim, they would have to be considered the front-runner.
--Mike DiGiovanna
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