Jerry Dipoto resigns as Angels general manager

Angels' general manager Jerry Dipoto has officially resigned from his position, according to a report from Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com. The decision seemed very likely as of last night, though reports surfaced this morning that team owner Arte Moreno was trying one final time to convince Dipoto to stay in his position.

Dipoto's resignation marks the end of a period of drama and chaos in Anaheim that was started by a FOXSports.com report that stated how tensions between Dipoto and manager Mike Scioscia were once again rising, this time due to difference in philosophy about how analytics should be distributed to players. Star first baseman Albert Pujols was said to be involved in a heated exchange during a recent team meeting, opening the public's eyes to what appeared to be a sharp divide within the Angels' organization.

Once word of the tensions got out, anger within the organization rose about the leak, leading to Dipoto packing up his office on Tuesday before making his official decision today. While his replacement is not yet known, industry buzz is that assistant general manager Matt Klentak and pro scouting director Hal Morris are the most likely candidates to take over on an interim basis. Morris interviewed for the Diamondbacks' general manager opening last winter, and Klentak was thought of as an eventual heir to Ruben Amaro Jr. in Philadelphia due to his strong relationship with new team president Andy MacPhail.

Dipoto leaves his first general manager job after three and a half seasons at the helm of the Angels' front office, and will be remembered most for the massive free-agent signings of Pujols, Josh Hamilton and C.J. Wilson. The team went to the playoffs only once during Dipoto's tenure (2014) despite huge contracts and the emergence of superstar Mike Trout.

The belief throughout the game is that Dipoto did not have much power in Anaheim due to the meddling of Moreno, who was said to be the most influential figure behind the signings of Pujols and Hamilton, and the legacy of Scioscia, who has been the team's manager since 2000 and has led the team to seven playoff appearances and a World Series title.