Angels Rumors Include Dombrowski

The Los Angeles Angels rumors regarding the team’s front office are picking up. The Angels have been linked to long-time big league executive, Dave Dombrowski. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Dombrowski is the “most rumored possibility.” With five games remaining in 2020, the Angels are guaranteed to finish with a losing record for the fifth season in a row. The growing consensus around the league is that current general manager Billy Eppler will not be retained. The turmoil in Anaheim has become more apparent with the recent decision of star shortstop Andrelton Simmons, to opt-out of the final five games of the 2020 season.

Dombrowski’s Track Record

Dave Dombrowski has worked in baseball since 1978 when he was hired as an administrative assistant in the Chicago White Sox minor league system. Since then he has been general manager of four organizations, most notably the Florida Marlins (1993-2001) and the Boston Red Sox (2015-2019). With those two franchises, he was instrumental in winning a World Series. He also took the Detroit Tigers to the World Series twice during his 14 years in Detroit (2002-2015). In total, he has been a general manager for 31 seasons.

However, Dombrowski’s success hasn’t come without his fair share of negativity. Although he deserves a fair share of the blame, it isn’t his alone. First, Dombrowski tore down the Marlins just one season after winning the championship at the behest of team owner Wayne Huizenga. Then, he left the Tigers with an awful farm system and overpriced veterans due to team owner Mike Ilitch’s win-at-all-costs motto. Lastly, he left Boston in flux after capturing a World Series title the previous season.

Angels Rumors Make Sense

Some might wonder why the Angels would look at someone with such an interesting track record to be general manager. First, he has a connection to the Angels glory days. Bill Stoneman hired Dombrowski in Montreal when Stoneman was General Manager. Yes, the same Bill Stoneman who was general manager during their run to a 2002 World Series victory. Secondly, team owner Arte Moreno has only hired first-time general managers since he bought the team. Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times points out that someone with a track record of winning in the playoffs is likely to appeal to Moreno. He also writes that many baseball insiders do not look positively on the possibility of working for Moreno.

Moreno is the X-Factor

Arte Moreno is the wild card moving forward. The Angels owner is infamous for making decisions against the advice of his front office. Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton, and Vernon Wells all went against the advice of the Angels front office. Even this past off-season Moreno’s influence was the difference-maker. Scott Boras mentioned that Moreno preferred Anthony Rendon to Gerrit Cole, both Boras clients. Although the Angels were in desperate need of pitching, Moreno decided Rendon was the better choice. Rumors about Eppler fighting for Gerrit Cole were numerous. In the end, it seems likely Billy Eppler will be fired. Arte Moreno will then hire his fourth general manager of the past 17 years. Angels fans can only hope that this will be a change for the better.

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