Jason Giambi Rumors

Managerial Notes: Rockies, Blue Jays

By [November 6, 2012 at 4:01pm CST]

Assuming the Nationals work out a deal to keep Davey Johnson in place, the Rockies and Blue Jays will be the only two teams still seeking managers. Here’s the latest on their respective searches…

  • Walt Weiss and Matt Williams are the two remaining candidates for the Rockies' position, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports. Weiss remains the favorite, according to Saunders. Rockies bench coach Tom Runnells and veteran slugger Jason Giambi are no longer in the running for the job.
  • Williams, the Diamondbacks third-base coach, told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post that his interview for the Rockies' managerial opening went "very well." Rockies owner Dick Monfort, GM Dan O'Dowd and senior VP Bill Geivett asked Williams about his philosophy on managing in Coors Field. 
  • The Rockies had some talks with former Rockies player Eric Young Sr. and Steve Buechele, who manages the Rangers' Double-A team, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports. There's no indication those two candidates will receive more extensive consideration, Harding writes.
  • Former MLB manager and player Art Howe told Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun that he'd like to manage the Blue Jays. The 65-year-old has some connections in Toronto and says the Blue Jays can compete before long. “They have some nice talent and were very competitive until they fell off with those injuries to their position players," Howe told Elliott.
  • Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reported yesterday that the Blue Jays are in no rush to find a manager. They'll resume their search following this week's GM Meetings.
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NL Links: Padres, Haren, Giambi, Ross, Phillies

By [November 3, 2012 at 10:19pm CST]

Ken Davidoff of The New York Post ranked the top 30 free agents by value, with Michael Bourn topping the list. Davidoff predicts the outfielder will sign a five-year, $85MM deal with the Nationals. Here's the latest from the only league Bourn has known as a big leaguer, the NL…

  • “Attractive and realistic … Guys we want and think we can get. We went through a list of 40 pitchers to come up with 8-10 we’re really trying to get," said Padres GM Josh Byrnes to Bill Center of The San Diego Union-Tribune. San Diego figures to focus on arms this winter, and Center believes Dan Haren is near the top of that list.
  • Jason Giambi will still deciding whether to play or manage next season, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). The Rockies are only considering him as a manager, however.
  • Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com looked at Cody Ross as a potential free agent target for the Phillies. In our Offseason Outlook, Ben Nicholson-Smith noted that the Fightin's figure to seek outfield help this winter.
  • The Cardinals have had discussions about expanding Jim Edmonds' role in the organization, reports Joe Strauss of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (on Twitter). That could mean more time in Spring Training or something else for the team's long-time center fielder, who currently serves as a special instructor.
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Managerial Notes: Blue Jays, Marlins, Rockies

By [October 24, 2012 at 3:43pm CST]

Three teams are seeking managers now that the Marlins have officially dismissed Ozzie Guillen. Here’s the latest with the most recent updates up top…

  • Mike Redmond will interview with the Marlins for their managerial opening tonight, Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel reports (on Twitter). Redmond and Bryan Price are in the running for the job, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reported last night. Redmond, a minor league manager for the Blue Jays, appears to be an early favorite for the position, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com writes.
  • Nationals bench coach Randy Knorr hasn't been contacted by the Blue Jays about their vacancy, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports (on Twitter). The Blue Jays are still in information gathering mode, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). Sandy Alomar Jr., Tim Wallach and DeMarlo Hale are among the names in play.
  • The role of the manager has changed with the increased use of social media, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney writes. Outspoken skippers like Guillen and Bobby Valentine risk alienating their players in today’s media environment.
  • Jason Giambi blew the Rockies away in his interview for the team’s managerial opening, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports. The veteran power hitter left no doubt about his preparation and desire to get the job. Wallach, Alomar, Mike Gallego and Brad Ausmus are among the external candidates the Rockies are expected to contact, according to Renck.
  • President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said the Marlins will consider candidates without previous experience managing at the MLB level, Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald reports. Valentine is not a candidate and former Marlins Mike Lowell and Jeff Conine have indicated they aren't seeking MLB managing jobs.
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Coaching Links: Mariners, Ausmus, Giambi, Alomar

By [October 22, 2012 at 10:08pm CST]

John Farrell is back in a Red Sox uniform, but that's far from the only managerial and coaching news we'll see this offseason. Here's the latest on some of the open situations throughout the league…

  • The Mariners have announced the hiring of Dave Hansen as their hitting coach, writes MLB.com's Greg Johns. Hansen, who has been serving as the Dodgers' hitting coach, finished his Major League career with the Mariners in 2005. In parts of 15 seasons, he batted .260/.360/.369.
  • MLB.com's Corey Brock spoke with Brad Ausmus earlier today and was told that Ausmus is happy where he's at and isn't currently pursuing another position (Twitter link). Ausmus has been a popular name among managerial candidates.
  • Jason Giambi is a real candidate to manage the Rockies next season and would make a good Major League manager, writes Troy Renck of the Denver Post. Renck runs down several players he's covered throughout the years that thinks could also step into a managerial role with success, including Matt Holliday and Todd Helton. Renck also notes that a decision from the Rox could come prior to the start of the World Series, as MLB frowns on major announcements being made during the Fall Classic.
  • As of this afternoon, Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. had not received a call about interviewing to replace former Blue Jays manager John Farrell, tweets MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.
  • ESPN's Buster Olney tweets that if Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo follows Farrell to the Red Sox, it would likely be to serve as Farrell's bench coach.
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Latest On Rockies, Jason Giambi

By [October 19, 2012 at 1:30pm CST]

The Rockies interviewed Jason Giambi for their managerial opening on Thursday, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports. The Rockies, who have also interviewed bench coach Tom Runnells for the position, have now completed their meetings with in-house candidates. Team executives have tentative plans to interview outside candidates, Renck reports.

Giambi, 41, remains in the mix for the managerial opening. He has said he’d retire from playing if offered the managerial job, but hasn’t ruled out returning as an MLB player. Renck mentions Tim Wallach of the Dodgers, Sandy Alomar Jr. of the Indians and Mike Gallego of the Athletics as possible targets for Colorado.

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Managerial Notes: Guillen, Johnson, Red Sox, Pena

By [October 16, 2012 at 5:36pm CST]

Here's the latest on some of the open (or possibly open) managerial vacancies from around baseball…

  • "It is my belief that as more time passes, the greater the likelihood [Ozzie] Guillen keeps his job. Some others I've spoken with share the same sense," writes Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, though he notes that this opinion is based on "nothing concrete."  While Guillen may stay, there is a greater possibility that the Marlins will make some changes to the coaching staff.
  • Davey Johnson tells Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that he has some "unfinished business" with the Nationals and wants to return as the team's manager next season.  With GM Mike Rizzo also eager for Johnson to return, Kilgore notes that it will just take ownership approval to work out a new deal for Johnson, who is only contracted through 2013 as a consultant with the Nats.
  • The Red Sox will interview Brad Ausmus on Wednesday and DeMarlo Hale on Thursday, reports Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald.  No manager interviews are scheduled beyond Hale, though the team is open to adding more candidates.  The Sox have yet to interview Sandy Alomar Jr. or Torey Lovullo, both of whom interviewed for Boston's manager's job last year.
  • Yankees bench coach Tony Pena interviewed for the Red Sox job yesterday and told Lauber (Twitter link) that the two sides talked for six hours and had "a great baseball conversation."
  • Jason Giambi is "more suited than most think" to be a manager, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post, who believes Giambi has "spent [the] last few years preparing for this transition."  Renck reported earlier today that the Rockies would interview Giambi for their vacant managerial job.  
    Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/fish_bytes/2012/10/all-quiet-on-the-marlins-front.html#storylink=cpy
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Quick Hits: Trout, Indians, Giambi, Mets

By [October 16, 2012 at 4:47pm CST]

Mike Trout's outstanding rookie season earned him Baseball America's Rookie of the Year award, but that's not all he won. The publication named Trout the 2012 Player of the Year ahead of Buster Posey, Miguel Cabrera and others. Check out Jerry Crasnick's piece for a more complete look at Trout and continue reading for more of today’s links…

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Rockies To Interview Jason Giambi

By [October 16, 2012 at 7:52am CST]

The Rockies will interview 18-year MLB veteran Jason Giambi for their managerial vacancy, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports. No date has been set for the Rockies to interview Giambi, the team's final in-house candidate. 

Giambi has spent the past three and a half years of his career playing for the Rockies. Renck and Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reported earlier this month that the 41-year-old would retire as a player if given the opportunity to manage the Rockies. Giambi, a free agent this coming offseason, has not coached at any level or ruled out another year as a player.

The Rockies interviewed bench coach Tom Runnells for their managerial opening last week, and the former Montreal Expos manager said he's excited about the state of the franchise, according to MLB.com’s Thomas Harding. Rockies senior VP of Major League operations Bill Geivett said the Rockies will look outside of the organization for more candidates, according to Renck.

Triple-A manager Stu Cole could obtain a coaching position, but he won't be the team's next manager. The Rockies don't have plans to interview Vinny Castilla, a current front office member and former Rockies star.

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Managerial Notes: Giambi, Rockies, Red Sox

By [October 14, 2012 at 11:38am CST]

Late last week, the Rockies started the search for their next manager in earnest when they interviewed bench coach Tom Runnells.  They're also set to interview Triple-A manager Stu Cole, but a third in-house name may join the mix.  Here's more on that and other managerial notes..

  • Jason Giambi remains a candidate for the Rockies' managerial vacancy until he's ruled out, writes Troy Renck of The Denver Post.  It's possible that the slugger will interview this week as the club determines whether to stay in-house or look outside for their next skipper.  Last week, a source close to Giambi indicated that he would retire if given the opportunity to manage the Rockies.
  • Meanwhile, the Red Sox are giving consideration to another managerial candidate who comes without previous experience.  Brad Ausmus doesn't have the resume of other available names but is considered to be a good stress-reliever with a competitive edge, similar to Terry Francona, writes Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald.  The former catcher's only dugout experience came this summer as the manager of Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic qualifying round.
  • One Rockies player told Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post that he is concerned that candidates will be put off by the lack of control they would have in Colorado.  "We are essentially being managed by the front office now," said the player. "I'm really wondering what kind of manager — I'm talking about a good manager — would come in here and accept this."
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West Notes: Rangers, Tracy, Rockies, Giambi, Hamilton

By [October 8, 2012 at 5:58pm CST]

Items out of the AL and NL West..

  • Much has been made of the Rangers' Josh Hamilton dilemma this offseason, but GM Jon Daniels will also need to re-tool his pitching staff this winter, writes T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. The Rangers will have money to spend, but also have Colby Lewis and Neftali Feliz working their way back from injuries. Martin Perez remains an option for the team as well.
  • Jim Tracy told Troy E. Renck and Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post that there wasn't one particular issue that led to his resignation from the Rockies, but rather a number of factors.  It would seem that Tracy was irked by some of the club's unconventional ideas and his overall decrease in power.
  • Meanwhile, Jason Giambi would retire as a player if he were given consideration for the managerial opening, a source close to the Rockies veteran told Renck and Saunders. 
  • Given Hamilton's injury history and age, Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com doesn't think that the Rangers should give him more than three guaranteed years in a new contract.  However, Durrett believes that there's at least one team out there that will go beyond that for the outfielder.  A vesting option for a fourth year based on whether Hamilton stays healthy could be a concession the Rangers could comfortably make.
  • Dave Cameron of Fangraphs wonders if Hamilton might be the most confusing free agent ever.  Cameron could see the slugger landing a five-year, $125MM deal from a team that chooses to ignore all the risk but can also envision him taking a one-year pact somewhere to prove that his second half wasn't a sign of things to come.
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