Padres Fire General Manager Josh Byrnes

The Padres offense ranks last in the Major Leagues in eight major statistical categories (and a whole lot more if we dive in to Sabermetric analysis.) The roster is full of players hitting below their playing weights.

After 75 games, with a 32-43 record (third-worst in Major League Baseball), the team's ownership had seen enough.

Just before their game against the Dodgers at Petco Park on Sunday, the Padres relieved General Manager Josh Byrnes of his duties.

"This ownership group is committed to fielding a team that consistently competes for postseason play," said Padres President and CEO Mike Dee in a statement. "Thus far this season, the results on the field have been mixed at best and clearly have not lived up to expectations. After a lengthy evaluation of every facet of our baseball operations, we have decided to make this change."

The Padres will allow Senior VP of Baseball Operations Omar Minaya, and Assistant General Managers AJ Hinch and Fred Uhlman, Jr. to handle GM duties until a replacement is found. The team says it's starting the search for a replacement immediately.

β€œWe are looking for someone who can define, direct and lead this franchise’s baseball philosophy for years to come,” Dee said.

The move comes just 39 days before the MLB trade deadline, and with the Padres falling further out of contention, it's likely other contending teams will be calling to try and pluck impact players for the stretch run.

While their offense has been abysmal, the Padres do have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. Closer Huston Street has converted all 21 of his save chances in 2014 and figures to be in demand.

Byrnes was hired by the Padres and Jed Hoyer in December of 2010, taking a role as Vice President of Baseball Operations. Byrnes then took over as Padres General Manager in October of 2011 when Hoyer left to join the Chicago Cubs organization.

In two and a half years with Byrnes serving as GM, the Padres were 31 games under .500.

Dee confirmed that the Padres are keeping manager Bud Black at least until the end of the 2014 season.

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