Angels GM Jerry Dipoto resigns; Stoneman returns in interim role

Los Angeles Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto, on the wrong side of a power struggle with manager Mike Scioscia, has resigned, a high-ranking club official with direct knowledge of Dipoto's decision confirmed.

Another club official confirmed that Bill Stoneman, the GM who hired Scioscia in 2000, is returning as interim GM. Stoneman had served in a senior advisory role since after the 2007 season. The officials confirmed the moves on condition of anonymity because the club has not yet announced them.

Dipoto's relationship with Scioscia has been rocky almost since he took the GM job after the 2011 season, and it reached a boiling point Monday that had him clearing out his office.

The news of the renewed friction between Dipoto and Scioscia resurfaced over the weekend when Fox Sports reported that Dipoto met with the club last week and told the players that they were not utilizing their scouting and analytic information provided by the front office, and that they now would be hand-delivered the information by a front-office staffer, and not the coaching staff.

Albert Pujols, who's in the fourth year of his 10-year, $240 million contract, challenged Dipoto, the report said, and told him that the team would be doing better if he improved the roster instead of worrying about the statistical information. The Angels are 41-37 and trailing the Houston Astros by four games in the AL West after going 98-64 a year ago.

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"Whoever leaked that story, it's really embarrassing, because we're supposed to be family here," Pujols told reporters. "I don't know how that information got out."

Pujols, who has a league-leading 24 homers, including 16 in the last 31 games, also vehemently denied that he criticized the team's talent.

"I didn't say that," Pujols said. "I've been in this game for 16 years. I would never disrespect a team."

Yet, when asked whether he exchanged words with Dipoto, Pujols told reporters: "That's none of your business. Whatever happens in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse."

Angels owner Arte Moreno was in the clubhouse for more than a half hour after the team's 2-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday.

Scioscia and Dipoto's rift actually started in 2012 over the same issue of Scioscia's resistance to statistical data, and boiled when Dipoto fired hitting coach Mickey Hatcher in May 2012. Yet, when it appeared that they couldn't coexist after the 2012 season, Moreno stepped in, and told them to resolve their differences.

"Our relationship has developed into a good working relationship,'' Scioscia told reporters, "and it's grown from where it was four years ago to where it is now. …

"I'm not going to comment on what happened or didn't happen, but I can tell you it won't be a distraction to these guys."

MLB.com first reported that Stoneman will assume interim GM duties. Stoneman put the finishing touches on the Angels' 2002 World Series roster, and was retained by Moreno after the club was purchased in 2003.