With new GM hire looming, Hinch leaves Padres

SAN DIEGO (AP) The San Diego Padres say assistant general manager A.J. Hinch has left the team in order to look for another job in baseball.

The move has been expected ever since he told club executives on July 11 that he was taking himself out of consideration to replace fired GM Josh Byrnes.

Hinch helped run the baseball operations department after Byrnes was fired. The Padres made a handful of trades, including moving third baseman Chase Headley and closer Huston Street.

The Padres are expected to hire a new GM this week. The frontrunners are believed to be Billy Eppler, assistant general manager of the New York Yankees and a former scout for the Padres, and A.J. Preller, assistant GM of the Texas Rangers.