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Billy Eppler, the next San Diego Padres general manager? Jon Heyman reports that Eppler, the assistant general manager for the Yankees, is the "probable frontrunner" right now, with an announcement on the new g.m. expected this week.
Normally we wouldn't care about who the Padres' next general manager would be, but one of the other finalists is Rangers assistant general manager A.J. Preller. At one point, he seemed like he was the favorite for the job, and is still one of the four finalists, though it sounds like he's behind Eppler in the pecking order now.
Preller has been instrumental in expanding the Rangers' international scouting operation, and is one of Jon Daniels' "inner core" of advisors, along with Thad Levine and Don Welke. If he were to leave, that would be a significant blow to the Rangers' front office.
