SAN DIEGO The struggling San Diego Padres have fired general manager Josh Byrnes.

in a release Sunday, just minutes before the Padres were to face the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Padres are 32-43 and 12 games out of first in the NL West. They finished 76-86 in each of Byrnes' first two seasons in the position.

Now the question becomes, who replaces Byrnes? Speculation began Jerry Rice T Shirts immediately.

Now that the have fired GM Josh Byrnes, they are internally discu sing the po sibility of bringing back GM Kevin Towers

Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale)

The weighed in with five candidates, including former Miami Marlins GM Larry Beinfest.

CEO Mike Dee: "The results .. clearly have not lived up to expectations." New owners inherited GM Josh Byrnes, now will hire own guy

Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin)

Omar Minaya, Fred Dwight Clark Jerseys Uhlman and A.J. Hinch will share GM duties until a replacement is found, according to reports.

No word on the future of Jimmy Garoppolo Jerseys Bud Black in the Padres' announcement firing Josh Byrnes. Likely that new GM will decide on manager.

Ben Higgins (@BenHigginsSD)

Minaya was the general manager of the New York Mets from 2005-10.

"This ownership group is committed to fielding a team that consistently competes for postseason play," Dee said. "Thus far this season, the results on the field have been mixed Ray Ray McCloud Jerseys 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 today."

Byrnes was hired by the Padres as their senior vice president for baseball operations in December 2010 after he was let go as general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he was in the middle of an eight-year deal. He was promoted 10 months later to GM and was given a five-year contract.

Under Byrnes, the Padres payroll increased nearly $40 million to $89,881,696 on opening this season 23rd overall but the team has made little progre s.

After finishing with 76-86 records in his first two seasons, the Padres are 32-43 and 12 1/2 games back in the NL West during an injury-plagued season.

Jerry Rice Hoodies Sweatshirts Byrnes was touted by the Padres as excelling at scouting and player development, but his biggest moves came through trades. He sent first base prospect Anthony Rizzo to the Cubs for top-line starter Andrew Cashner, and he dealt starting pitcher Mat Latos for infielder Yasmani Grandal, catcher Yonder Alonso, and right-handers Edinson Volquez and Brad Boxberger.

Byrnes also acquired starter Tyson Ro s, right-hander Joaquin Benoit, closer Huston Street, outfielder Carlos Quentin and right-hander Ian Chris Slayton Jerseys Kennedy.