The Angels "have interviewed" Mariners Dir of Player Development Chris Gwynn for their GM opening, "increasing to nine the number of known candidates" the team has interviewed, according to Jeff Fletcher of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. The "leading candidate is still thought to be" Yankees VP & Assistant GM Billy Eppler, while Dodgers Senior VP/Baseball Operations Josh Byrnes, Blue Jays VP Baseball Operations & Assistant GM Tony LaCava and Angels Assistant GM Matt Klentak "are the most experienced candidates." Byrnes is the "only one who has been a GM," running the D-backs and Padres. The Angels "also interviewed" new Red Sox GM Mike Hazen before he was promoted. Angels Assistant GM/Scouting & Player Development Scott Servais, Angels Pro Scouting Dir Hal Morris and Indians VP/Player Personnel Ross Atkins "have also been interviewed" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 9/29).
TRIBAL ALLEGIANCE? Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal cites sources as saying that the "Phillies and other teams have requested permission to interview" Indians Assistant GM Mike Chernoff. However, the sources said that Chernoff is "staying with Indians -- perhaps to move up to GM," with current GM Chris Antonetti becoming President of Baseball Operations (TWITTER.com, 9/29).
PLACE YOUR BETS: In Philadelphia, Ryan Lawrence notes incoming Phillies President Andy MacPhail last week "restated his goal" of hiring a GM to replace Ruben Amaro Jr. prior to the team's organizational meetings at the end of October. MacPhail said he was "pretty confident" there would still be "a lot of talent out there," despite other teams filling their own GM vacancies before October. Lawrence writes fans can "place a pretty smart bet" that the next Phillies GM "will have a strong background in analytics." One "educated guess" is that the Phillies "will hire an outsider." Phillies investor John Middleton "is on the record about how 'important' it is" for the team to bring "'new blood in, new ideas.'" A "handful of people who could fit that criteria" include Eppler, Klentak, Royals VP & Assistant GM/Player Personnel J.J. Picollo, Rangers Assistant GM Thad Levine and MLB Senior VP/Baseball Operations Kim Ng (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 9/29).
