San Diego Padres fire manager Andy Green

A season that started with so much promise has ended with the manager losing his job. Less than a day after being routed 9-0 by Arizona, the San Diego Padres fired manager Andy Green on Saturday. Prior to Saturday's game against Arizona, executive vice president and general manager A.J. Preller said Green was fired because the team was not playing up to its talent level.

"We have more talent and a better ball club than the way we are playing," Preller said. "We are trying to build toward something. Big picture-wise, we think we are in a good place."

Bench coach Rod Barajas will serve as the interim manager for the rest of the season.

After becoming the 19th manager in franchise history on October 29, 2015, Green compiled a 274-366 record in four seasons with San Diego. Shy on talent, his teams lost 90 games in each of his first three seasons but entered the 2019 season with high expectations after the signing of free agent Manny Machado to a $300 million contract and the arrival of top prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. The Padres entered the All-Star break as a .500 team but have gone 24-40 since, falling to 69-85 overall and second to last in the NL West.

"I want to thank Andy for his tireless work and dedication to the Padres over the last four seasons," Preller said in a statement. "This was an incredibly difficult decision, but one we felt was necessary at this time to take our organization to the next level and expedite the process of bringing a championship to San Diego. Our search for a new manager will begin immediately."

In a joint statement, executive chairman Ron Fowler and general partner Peter Seidler said, "Andy's class, dignity and leadership through a difficult developmental period for our team should be applauded. On behalf of the entire Padres organization, we wish Andy and the Green family the best."