TUESDAY: The Reds have announced that Price has been signed to a three-year deal as the team's new manager. A press conference has been called for 3pm ET to announce the contract. General manager Walt Jocketty offered the following quote on the team's new skipper (via the Reds' official Twitter account):
"I have spent a lot of time with Bryan since the season ended, and I was convinced after the first meeting he is the right person to help us move this organization forward. We've all seen his work here with our pitching staff. He has proven himself to be an excellent communicator and leader and clearly is one of the most respected people not only in our clubhouse but in baseball in general."
MONDAY: The Reds have chosen Bryan Price as the club's new manager just over two weeks after firing six-year skipper Dusty Baker. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that Price was expected to be named by the club tomorrow (via Twitter), with Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweeting shortly thereafter that Price had in fact been hired.
Price, previously the team's pitching coach, had been rumored to be one of two leading candidates (along with Jim Riggleman) to take the helm in Cinci. Despite two division titles and three post-season berths in the past four seasons under Baker, the decision was made to part ways after Baker apparently told the front office that blame should fall on his shoulders rather than those of his hitting coach. According to C. Trent Rosecrans of the Enquirer, Price has been a well-regarded keeper of the club's arms and would become one of only a handful of current MLB managers who never played in the bigs.
Steve Adams contributed to this post.
