Padres' GM Search Impacts The AL East

According to multiple reports, the San Diego Padres are close to naming Jed Hoyer their new General Manager. Hoyer is currently Theo Epstein's top lieutenant in Boston, and served a brief stint as the Red Sox' co-GM in late 2005 when a gorilla-suited Epstein temporarily left the organization following a lover's spat with boss and mentor Larry Lucchino. Hoyer and holdover Paul DePodesta will give the Padres a pretty formidable brain trust.

The Yankees stand to benefit from this hire. Not only does their principal rival lose a key member of their front office, but as a result, the Yankees get to keep a key member of theirs. Billy Eppler, the Yankees' Director of Pro Scouting, was rumored to be a candidate as well. Eppler is Brian Cashman's most trusted advisor, likely the most statistically inclined member of the Yankees; front office, and is responsible for finding players like Alfredo Aceves, Ramiro Pena, and Edwar Ramirez. He also recommended the Yankees select Joakim Soria (from the Padres no less) in the 2006 Rule 5 draft, but the Royals beat them to the punch.

Another interesting story line here is what will become of former Padres GM Kevin Towers? Towers attended Game Four of the ALCS earlier this week and has said that he plans to accept a job sometime around the Winter Meetings. Earlier this month River Ave Blues speculated that Towers, who is close with Cashman, could accept a scouting job with the Yankees. However, Epstein and Lucchino are both familiar with Towers from their time with San Diego in the late 90s and have apparently already offered him a job. With Hoyer departing, Towers would be a great addition to the Sox' brain trust. This one will warrant watching as the hot stove league heats up.