SAN DIEGO (AP) Admitting his San Diego Padres ''didn't have the right formula'' this season, general manager A.J. Preller says he's looking for a manager who can get the underachieving team to play at a high level.
Preller fired interim manager Pat Murphy on Sunday after the Padres finished 74-88 and fourth in the NL West, 18 games behind the division champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Padres were a disappointment. Despite the addition of stars such as Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and James Shields and a bump in payroll past the $100 million mark for the first time, the Padres had their worst finish in four years.
San Diego has had five straight losing seasons and has missed the playoffs for nine straight years.
Murphy replaced Bud Black, who was fired in mid-June.
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