There were a host of updates this morning on all four managerial openings around the league. Here’s the latest:
- Long-time big leaguer Phil Nevin, who most recently has served as the manager of the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A affiliate, has drawn broad interest, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports on Twitter. Nevin has already interviewed with the Marlins and Nationals, as expected, and will also sit down with the Padres and Mariners. Nevin, 44, spent the most memorable stretch of his 12-year big league career in San Diego, where he racked up a .288/.359/.503 slash in over 3,000 plate appearances.
- The Padres will also interview long-time big leaguer Alex Cora, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). Cora, who currently works as an analyst, has often been mentioned as a managerial candidate and served as a skipper in his native Puerto Rico. The 39-year-old spent parts of fourteen seasons in the majors, the last of those with the Nationals in 2011.
- The Marlins and Nationals will also interview Cora, according to a tweet from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Like Nevin, it seems, he’ll be given a look by all the teams currently seeking new field leadership.
- Indeed, Cora is also expected to receive interest from the Mariners, according to ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden (Insider link). Other names that could be weighed in Seattle include Padres bench coach Dave Roberts, Rays third base coach Charlie Montoya, Angels special assistant Tim Bogar, and former big league skipper Bud Black, per the report. We’ve heard Bogar mentioned previously as a possible favorite, with a variety of other names that could be considered.
- The Nationals will not only take a look at Nevin and Cora, but will also interview Black this week, Nightengale tweets, which was widely expected. Washington also has interest in Giants bench coach Ron Wotus, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.
- Bowden says to look for the Marlins to interview an “eclectic” mix of possibilities for their managerial vacancy — a description which could, it seems, be applied to many of the other openings. The club is giving indications that it will wait to make a decision until the Dodgers decide whether to retain Don Mattingly, as he’d be considered a strong candidate in Miami.
- You can keep track of all the latest developments for three of the above teams’ managerial situations at the following links: Marlins, Nationals, Padres. (We’ll start one for the Mariners in short order.)
Padres wouldn’t go wrong with Cora, neither would the Marlins. One of the smarter/more intelligent ball players of the last 10-15 years and a great club house guy who had the respect of his peers.
Shame he hasn’t gotten a job yet, other than as a winter ball manager in PR.
As the Dodgers brass evaluates Mattingly, Friedman
Huh? Friedman isn’t going anywhere. He just got there.
Maybe, but managers can only manage the players they are given.
Donnie baseball’s done a great job with a below championship caliber club. The offseason pitching staff additions didn’t pan out for the most part. Kudos for keeping the top prospects, but they don’t need to replace the dugout boss.
Honestly, I hope the Dodgers retain Mattingly. I mean where else can you exercise a payroll of 300 million and a manager who cannot win with that kind of clout. It just means the Giants will never be out of it or relinquish the stranglehold of winning the World Series out of that division the way they have these past 5 plus years. Please Dodger Frobt Office, keep Mattingly so we can keep adding to our total number of championships above the Los Angekes Doooooooshbags
how do the Dodgers fan feel about not trading for Hamels now? I hope Kershaw gets the W tonight, if not… its going to sting. Pulling for the Dodgers, never thought I’d say that
Shouldda just given the Phillies de Leon…
I met Alex Cora at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York back in 2009. He was ecstatic that I knew who he was.
I’m OK if Mattingly is allowed to move on. He is one of my all time favorite players but we are set with Wallach/Roenicke/Lopes. Would be the next challenge for AF to discover future coaching talents.