We learned of a rift between Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim general manager Jerry DiPoto and manager Mike Scioscia. We wondered: with the rift, could Scioscia opt out of his contract at season's end and be eligible to sign with the Phillies? It turns out, Scioscia appears to be coming out on the winning end of the situation.
Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports that DiPoto is the one leaving:
Source: Jerry Dipoto has made a final decision. He is stepping down.
— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) July 1, 2015
Assuming Scioscia stays, this could affect the Phillies in a couple ways.
First, Jerry DiPoto becomes a general manager candidate for the Phillies. On Power Alley this morning with Jody McDonald and Jim Duquette on MLB Network Radio, the former general manager Duquette (who actually was linked to the Phillies job himself by Boston Globe writer Nick Cafardo) said that Andy MacPhail's "number one priority should be to get Jerry DiPoto in there".
Second, the Angels might promote from within. Assistant general manager Matt Klentak worked with MacPhail in Baltimore and would be a top up-and-coming general manager candidate. Should the Angels decide to promote Klentak within – and he would be an excellent choice – the Phillies might miss out on their opportunity to hire him.
Within one week baseball saw a manager (Ryne Sandberg) and a general manager (DiPoto) up and resign. Either would be a rare occurrence in baseball as it is. Both have the potential to affect the Phillies organization.
