San Diego Padres manager Bud Black has been "relieved of his duties," the team announced Monday. The Padres, who were big spenders this offseason, are currently in third place in the NL West with a 32-33 record.
Padres fire manager Bud Black
Playing near .500 baseball was not good enough for manager Bud Black to keep his job.
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
"The club will immediately begin the formal search for an interim manager for the remainder of the 2015 season," the Padres announced. "Until that process has concluded, bench coach Dave Roberts will serve as the manager beginning with tonight's game against Oakland."
Expectations were high for the Padres after the offseason general manager A.J. Preller put together. Following a 77-85, third-place finish last season, Preller brought in outfielder Matt Kemp and went back to the trade market to grab outfielders Wil Myers and Justin Upton, catcher Derek Norris and -- just before the season began -- closer Craig Kimbrel. Preller also signed starting pitchers James Shields and Brandon Morrow. The spending brought San Diego's payroll from $90 million in 2014 to $108 million in 2015, while the only notable major league player lost was Yasmani Grandal.
The Padres opened the season 11-12 in April and posted another sub-.500 month in May at 14-15. They went 7-6 in June, going 5-5 in their last 10 games.
Black went 649-713 in eight-plus seasons at the helm of the Padres. The team finished as high as second place in 2010 with a 90-72 record, but failed to make the playoffs. Their average finish in the division was 3.6 during Black’s time there, and they finished above .500 twice.
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