Rangers Assistant GM A.J. Preller will interview a second time for Padres GM Job
By Joel Burdeos
San Diego, CA- Texas Rangers assistant general manager A.J. Preller will return to San Diego for a second interview with the San Diego Padres according to Gerry Fraley of The Dallas Morning News.
A.J. Preller is the first candidate to brought back for a second interview and has possibly emerged as the favorite to become the Padres new general manager. Fraley also reports that Ron Fowler and Padres ownership hope to have a new general manager in place after the July 31 trade deadline.
The Padres fired general manager Josh Byrnes last month and have interviewed former Miami Marlins general manager Larry Beinfest, New York Yankees assistant general manager Billy Eppler, Boston assistant general manager Mike Hazen, Los Angeles Dodgers scouting director Logan White, Arizona Diamondbacks scouting director Ray Montgomery, MLB Senior Vice President for Baseball Operations Kim Ng and A.J. Preller.
The Padres have began narrowing down their candidates according to MLB Network’s Peter Gammons. Gammons reported Sunday that the Padres have told Larry Beinfest and Logan White that they are out of the running for their open general manager position. Gammons also reports that he’s been told the Padres are looking to go in a new and young direction for their new general manager.
A.J. Preller was the Texas Rangers senior director of player personnel from 2010-2013 and was promoted by Rangers general manager Jon Daniels to Assistant general manager last offseason. If the San Diego Padres hire A.J. Preller, he will be the youngest general manager in major league baseball.