Los Angeles Dodgers executive vice president and general manager Paul DePodesta was fired Saturday. DePodesta had three years remaining on his contract, but the team is coming off a fourth-place finish that saw the Dodgers go just 71-91 and mutually part ways with manager Jim Tracy following the season. In his first year as GM, DePodesta led the team to a 93-69 record and the National League West Division title, which was the club's first postseason appearance since 1996. The Dodgers eventually lost to St. Louis in the NLDS, but did win their first playoff game since 1988. However, Los Angeles struggled this season, partly due to moves made by DePodesta. Catcher Paul Lo Duca, one of the team's most popular players, was dealt last year to Florida at the trading deadline, and then prior to the 2005 campaign, outfielder Shawn Green was also traded while third baseman Adrian Beltre was not re-signed. In addition, the Dodgers played a majority of this season without All-Star closer Eric Gagne, who was sidelined by injury. DePodesta, a Harvard graduate, was only 31 years old when he was hired in 2004 shortly after Frank McCourt took over as the team's chairman. Prior to his stint with the Dodgers, DePodesta had worked for five seasons with the Oakland Athletics, where he served as Billy Beane's top aide. DePodesta was also hired by the Cleveland Indians in 1996 as an intern in the baseball operations department and was an advance scout with Cleveland in 1997 and '98 before being promoted as special assistant to the general manager.