Rounding up all the latest manager talk by team:
Cubs
Owner Tom Ricketts has met with candidates Mike Quade, Ryne Sandberg, and Eric Wedge, reports Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. Bob Melvin is expected to meet with Ricketts, and Sullivan hasn't ruled out the Cubs entertaining Joe Girardi after the playoffs. Sullivan assesses the pros and cons of the five candidates, while Larry Stone of the Seattle Times puts Don Wakamatsu's name in the mix. Quade is the "surprise heavy favorite" for the job, according to SI's Jon Heyman.
Pirates
They interviewed Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum today, according to MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch. She notes that the Bucs have also interviewed Wedge, Bo Porter, John Gibbons, Ken Macha, and Jeff Banister. Heyman adds Juan Samuel to that list, but sees Wedge as the favorite. The Toronto Sun's Bob Elliott says the Pirates have also interviewed Valentine.
Brewers
Wedge and Tim Wallach have interviewed so far, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. He says they plan to interview about ten people in total, including Melvin. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel adds today via Twitter that he believes they've also interviewed Ron Roenicke. Heyman views Melvin as the favorite here. Cecil Cooper would like to interview, he told Haudricourt.
Blue Jays
Beyond long shot Bobby Valentine, who's already interviewed, they're looking at Don Baylor, Brian Butterfield, Samuel, Rob Thomson, Tim Bogar, DeMarlo Hale, and others according to Heyman. Stone mentions Rick Renteria, Nick Leyva, Ron Roenicke, and Luis Rivera as other candidates.
Mariners
Valentine is a strong candidate, says Heyman. He says they also have Ted Simmons, Gibbons, Joey Cora, Hale, Bogar, Bryan Price, and many others on their list. Larry Stone of the Seattle Times has more on this search, while also includes Wedge, Lloyd McClendon, and Cecil Cooper.
Marlins
Earlier this evening Valentine removed his name from consideration for the job, just days after Joe Capozzi's source named him the leading candidate. Heyman says Porter, Wallach, Tony Pena, and Jim Fregosi are also in the running. Don't forget Edwin Rodriguez, according to Stone.
Braves
They officially hired Fredi Gonzalez today, signing him through 2013 with a club option for '14.
Mets
Heyman feels that it's tough to guess their candidates until they hire a GM. Meanwhile, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com tweets that Mets officials aren't concerned with other teams conducting interviews or making hires. Updated at 6:30pm CST.
Luis Rivera is the manager of the Fisher Cats!!!!!!!!
Great guy, great players manager. Really like Luis and I know that if he were given the job he would be great. I wonder who would be the next Fisher Cats manager? Maybe Ralph Dickenson. But anyway, for those who don’t know much about Rivera, he is the man and is definetly someone who could manage a Major League Team because is a great players manager and focuses on maintaining a winning team and winning mindset. He also is very laid back and reminds me somewhat of new Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez.
why’s Valentine a long shot for the Jays? I hope to god he’s not a longer shot than Don Baylor. Yeeeuck.
Maybe because it was reported earlier that he was going to manage Marlins earlier but after that post, they posted that Valentine withdraws his name from Marlins search so maybe it’s not a longshot anymore?
Why does Jose “The Secret Weapon” Oquendo get no love? He has done a great job with the PR teams in the WBC. Does everyone just assume he’s going to replace TLR in St. Louis when he’s done?
The Pirates need to interview Ted Simmons. I’d still prefer Samuel out of those mentioned, but if not him then I’d like Wedge.
I’d like to see Luis Rivera on the coaching staff for the Jays. By all accounts he’s done a very good job in N.H. & he should be on the big league staff in some capacity. Wasn’t Don Wakamatsu also considered a candidate for the Jays job? I’ve read in a few places that he’s been considered. There were also reports that Wallach was a candidate. Don Baylor? No thanks. Beyond being Cito’s recommendation, there’s not much there. No doubt he’s been interviewed but I’d bet he’s not the guy.
Wallach is out now that he signed a new contract with the Dodgers organization
Not entirely. It just came out today that Wallach has interviewed with the Brewers, and can actually get out of his contract if he is offered a managerial job.
Roenicke would make a good manager. Right outta the Scoscia school of small ball, just like Maddon and Bud Black.
man the Cubs are relentless even though Girardi shows no interest in managing the Cubs they still want him?
Girardi showed no interest because he is still managing a team. That stuff takes care of itself one way or the other after his season is over.
Does anyone else think that the Crew’ should go after Ryne Sandberg? It’d be a great slap to the face of the Cubbies, he’s better than the hack Melvin, we aren’t giving Willy a chance. It all adds up to me as a great idea, I’m sure there is some contractual stipulation that would prohibit it, but if the Cubs don’t hire him as Manager, you better believe he’s gone from Chi town first chance he gets. Dude knows baseball, and was an all world athlete back in his day. Seems to be great with young talent, which the Beer Makers have a lot of, it just seems logical to me…. Any thoughts?
Does anyone else think that the Crew’ should go after Ryne Sandberg? It’d be a great slap to the face of the Cubbies, he’s better than the hack Melvin, we aren’t giving Willy a chance. It all adds up to me as a great idea, I’m sure there is some contractual stipulation that would prohibit it, but if the Cubs don’t hire him as Manager, you better believe he’s gone from Chi town first chance he gets. Dude knows baseball, and was an all world athlete back in his day. Seems to be great with young talent, which the Beer Makers have a lot of, it just seems logical to me…. Any thoughts?