Los Angeles is searching for a new General Manager and a top Yankees executive is reportedly drawing a notable amount of interest. Billy Eppler is currently an assistant GM with New York, but according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, he is also the leading candidate to become the next Angels GM.
Rosenthal adds the Angels have yet to ask the Yankees for permission to interview Eppler but the expectation is he is the front runner. Eppler was strongly considered for the position before the Angels hired Jerry Dipoto in October of 2011.
Dipoto formally resigned on July 1 as a result of what were considered notable strategic differences with Manager Mike Scioscia. According to Mike Digiovanna of The Los Angeles Times, assistant GMs Scott Servais and Matt Klentak have been interviewed for the job opening.
While the Angels do not have a desire to rush the process, the goal is to have a new GM by the end of the season if not shortly after, Digiovanna adds.
Eppler is likely thought to be a qualified candidate because of his scouting background. He was initially a scout for the Rockies in 2000 before joining the Yankees in the same capacity in 2004. Eppler subsequently became the pro scouting director and was named an assistant GM in 2011.
The Angels opening is not the first Eppler has been linked to. He was a candidate to become the next Padres GM in August of 2014 and was linked to the Diamondbacks' GM job last September but opted not to interview.
Since the Angels want to make a decision with their future front office and managerial situations in mind, Eppler might not be the only one linked to the job. But as of now, he appears to be the front runner.