The decision to fire Brad Ausmus after only one season was reached "collectively," Los Angeles Angels general manager Billy Eppler said, contradicting a widely held belief that it was an owner-driven choice at least partly inspired by the possibility of wooing Joe Maddon.
Eppler spoke via conference call on Tuesday afternoon, one day after abruptly dismissing Ausmus as his manager and less than one hour after announcing that bench coach Josh Paul and pitching coach Doug White had also been let go. Eppler said he will go over managerial candidates with owner Arte Moreno and president John Carpino later on Tuesday and did not provide any hint that the job is Maddon's to lose.