Source: Padres ready to fire longtime GM Towers

By Jon Heyman, SI.com

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Kevin Towers is out as GM of the San Diego Padres, sources confirm to SI.com.

MLB.com first reported Towers would be fired. The Padres have called a Saturday afternoon press conference.

Under Towers, the small-market Padres won NL West titles in 1996, 1998, 2005 and 2006. The Padres' $43 million payroll this season is among the lowest in baseball.

It appears new CEO Jeff Moorad wants to put his own stamp on the team. Candidates to replace Towers include Padres exec Paul DePodesta and possibly D-backs execs Jerry DiPoto or Peter Woodfork.

The Padres will still have to pay Towers for the final year of the two-year extension he signed before the 2008 season.