Since announcing the departure of manager John Gibbons, the Blue Jays have begun their search for a new skipper as they look to return to contention for the first time since back-to-back playoff appearances in 2015 and 2016. The search is now well underway, with the Jays narrowing a broad list of candidates to a smaller group that warrants closer consideration.
As of Oct. 18, the Blue Jays were “believed to be down to five candidates,” per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca. He cited Astros bench coach Joe Espada, Rays field coordinator Rocco Baldelli, Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde and Giants director of player development David Bell as finalists, though Bell’s name is obviously no longer in play since he’s been hired by the Reds as their new manager. Here’s where things presently stand…
Latest Update – October 23
- Rays bench coach Charlie Montoyo interviewed with the Jays today, per Fancred’s Jon Heyman (Twitter link). It’s not clear if it was a second interview and Montoyo had already emerged as one of the reported finalists or if the Jays set up additional interviews after the Reds hired Bell (a reported Jays finalist) away. That brings the Blue Jays to 15 or more candidates interviewed for the managerial vacancy.
Full summation of the Blue Jays’ managerial search below:
First-Round Candidates
Except where otherwise noted, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reported the initial interest:
- Ed Sprague, coordinator of instruction, Athletics: The former Blue Jays third baseman interviewed for the position, reports Bob Elliott of the Canadian Baseball Network (Twitter link). Sprague hasn’t managed at the big league level, and it’s not clear if he’s seen as a finalist or was merely one of many first-round interviews.
- Sandy Alomar Jr., first base coach, Indians: Over the years, Alomar has often been cited as a possible skipper but has yet to be given the opportunity to run a dugout.
- Joe Girardi, former Yankees and Marlins manager: Girardi spent the 2018 season as an MLB Network analyst after wrapping up his tenure in New York.
- Mike Matheny, former Cardinals manager: Matheny was cut loose during the 2018 season, his seventh year in that role.
- Eduardo Perez, broadcaster/analyst: In addition to his TV and radio duties, the former MLB corner infielder/outfielder has worked as a hitting coach, bench coach, and winter league manager since wrapping up his playing career.
- Joe Espada, bench coach, Astros: Though he’s only in his first season on the Houston staff, he could follow Alex Cora in parlaying his time under skipper A.J. Hinch into a managerial job of his own.
- Rocco Baldelli, field coordinator, Rays: The 37-year-old has been on the Tampa Bay MLB coaching staff for the past four years. He’s also drawing wide interest in this hiring round.
- Rob Thompson, bench coach, Phillies: The veteran MLB coach just wrapped up his first season as the bench coach in Philadelphia after a ten-year run on the Yankees’ coaching staff.
- John McDonald, defensive coordinator, player development field staff, Indians: The long-time MLB defensive stalwart has worked in the Cleveland player development department for the past several seasons. He’s short on directly relevant experience, but is a widely respected player with ties to the Toronto org.
- Stubby Clapp, Triple-A manager, Cardinals: Though he only briefly touched the majors as a player and hasn’t made it back as a coach, Clapp has drawn attention for his success with the Cards’ top affiliate.
- DeMarlo Hale, bench coach, Blue Jays: The long-time minor-league manager and MLB coach has previously featured as a top candidate for the Jays managerial job.
- Bobby Meacham, Triple-A manager, Blue Jays: The long-time minor-league skipper and MLB coach has been with the Jays organization since 2013.
- John Schneider, Double-A manager, Blue Jays: Schneider, 38, has worked his way up the coaching/managerial ladder in the Toronto farm system since his playing career was cut short.
- Brandon Hyde, bench coach, Cubs: A candidate who has received consideration from multiple other teams, Hyde has logged five campaigns apiece as a minor-league skipper and MLB coach. MLB.com’s Jon Morosi tweeted that he’s a candidate.
Potential Candidates
- Previous names linked to the opening by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal include former Cleveland skipper Eric Wedge and MLB Network analyst Dave Valle (twitter links). It is not certain at this time whether they have received real consideration during the search process.
Not Under Consideration
- Sam Fuld has also impressed the Toronto front office, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter). But the former big league outfielder, who has been with the Phillies as “Major League player information coordinator” for one year, does not seem to be in the competition for the Jays job. Per Jerry Crasnick, via Twitter, Fuld has withdrawn from the search.
- Though he was previously tabbed as a name under some consideration, Dodgers third base coach Chris Woodward is not considered a candidate at this time, per Arash Madani of Sportsnet.ca (via Twitter).
- David Bell, formerly the VP of player development for the Giants, interviewed for the Jays’ position but was recently hired as the new manager of the Reds.
Bring back Johnny Mac! Chant it with me!
Id like a AAA manager because they know how to actually manage a team, but haven’t yet failed at the big league level. For that reason, my preference right now is Stubby managing and Johnny Mac in whatever role he’s best suited for (bench coach?).
Bring up Stubby to coach in the majors he earned it!!!!!!
His name screams mlb manager!
Stubby or the Clapp?
Shocked the Jays aren’t going to interview #scoutseyes given his vast made up experience and scouting knowledge.
John McDonald had a farm. E I e I o. And on that farm he had glad a glut of talent. E I e I o.
With a vlad guerrero jr, sons of bichette and biggo. E I e I o.
Terrible.
Considering the number of teams Alomar has interviewed for I’m not entirely certain he’s really a serious candidate for any MLB manager job. After this long you gotta ask the question if there’s something in the interviews that teams don’t like about his potential style.
the fact he is Hispanic is probably the biggest thing, unfortunately.
He is Puerto Rican.
Seriously? He’s Hispanic so the fact that no one wants him as a manager must be just Bc of that? It couldn’t possibly be Bc there is something about his style that teams don’t like? It’s a race thing? Gotta be a race thing? That’s all it could possibly be. After all, there’s never been a Hispanic manager in the majors, and Alomar has never held a job with any team since his playing days, right? Oh? What’s that? Both of those are false? So then how does the fact that he is Hispanic matter to anyone if there have been Hispanic managers and he has been hired for other positions? Get out of here with that bull.
I think the point is, is that he only gets so many interviews because he’s Hispanic….his name has been floated out there forever…..
Really, the Jays situation is the most interesting of all the openings….Re-build? Add onto the core? Try to do both at once? They have a decent farm system….they have money……interesting situation….
i remember seeing an interview with him where he said there were a number of interviews were he felt like he was just being interviewed to satisfy the league minority rule. U have to interview at least one minority every search.
Bob you are correct. Jays have money and some talent in the farm. But they can’t beat the top teams next year and most likely 2020. They’ve already come out and said they will not go after Harper or Machado. So money will be kept for the time being.
As for their manager….the next two seasons will not matter except for one thing; teach the younger players how to adjust to the life of a major league baseball player. Prepare them, warn them, lead them, guide them. Winning would be an added bonus.
Alomar would be intriguing because his brother Roberto is still in the Jays organization. But if Sandy tells every GM and President that he only believes in certain types of numbers, they will say thanks but no thanks.
minority managers are under-represented and have been for a long time.
a team like the Jay’s however have said a bilingual manager would be a plus as so many of their young players are Hispanic.
Of course he’s going to cry foul if he isn’t hired. He isn’t going to say “Well, in fairness, I’m not qualified” or “I just interviewed poorly”. When in doubt, whip out the race card.
Preach it, man!
The jays need a manager who’s bilingual due to Vlad coming and other young Dominican players in the pipe
Both at once is my guess. That seems to be the Atkins-Shapiro method.
not just a decent farm team. A top 3-5 farm system w/ the best prospect in all of baseball and the 2nd best prospect in the top 10. Can’t ask for more.
Wasn’t Ozzie Guillan Hispanic?
Pretty sure he still is lol
Take a hike, libby. They’re supposed to hire someone because if his ethnic background? What happened to best man for the job?
gomer – exactly. That’s how it should be. I would say Alomar could be a strong candidate because…
A) Catchers are highly valued by execs
B) Execs are familiar with him since they came from Cleveland
C) Alomar is a former all-star with plenty of postseason experience as a player and now coach
D) Brother is former Blue Jays Hall of Famer currently in the organization
E) Learned from savvy vets as a player and a future Hall of Fame manager as a coach
I do not care what his ethnicity is. His baseball credentials are better than what Brad Ausmus, Mike Matheny and Aaron Boones were when they were hired for the first time.
I’d dig Alomar. He’d be a pretty decent manager.
Ugh! Why the double posts!?
Because lets face it, there are no Hispanic Managers (?!)
Alex Cora is definitely Norwegian……
No he’s not!
He’s Chinese
If anything being Puerto Rican is a bonus as he can speak two languages. Every team is looking for guys who can communicate with everyone sans the Japanese guys
What the he.ll does that have to do with it?
Alex Cora?
the fact is that a lot of qualified minorities do not get hired to manage. There are rare exceptions. Cora is one. Almost 30% of players are Hispanic- there are what 2 or 3 managers. All the rest in the minors, on coaching staffs. etc are unqualified? Perhaps… but I am sure Alomar can be no worse than some that
been hired
google.ca/amp/s/www.lavidabaseball.com/where-are-l…
Girardi would be a great choice as he knows the AL East very well. Thought he’d end up in LA with the Halos but he might prefer a shot to stick it to both NY and Bos.
why is Molitor not mentioned as a candidate?
I think he’s staying in the Minnesota org in a different role.
I had read his preference is to land another of the many managerial gigs that are open, if not hitting coach or something closer to the action.
I believe Molitor will be a baseball operations assistant in the Twins Org.
I kinda hope he goes back to the Brewers as a hitting and base running coach. That is something they could use to there advantage greatly to offense.
Please bring in joe Girardi..Yankees are regretting then self for letting him go! Yankees were an out away from advancing to the World Series without Stanton,Andujar and Torres to name a few.
Hire Robby Alomar….
Then he can spit on an umpire during an argument
That’s the most intelligent comment on this thread. Classy.
Thanks! The guy still doesn’t belong in baseball
as opposed to Mark McGuire and the other cheaters in baseball that are now coaching?
we’ve seen guys throw helmets and flying kick other players and heard about countless positive drug tests and domestic violence, but yeah Alomar deserves a ban. lol
I would like to official throw my name in the hat. I have only limited college baseball experience mostly on the bench, but have a high IQ in baseball. Since the jays should tear down and rebuild, they will have a few years where they will suck and play a bunch of chew veterans anyways. Insert cheap coach… me.
You know you’re going to get ripped to shreds by the MLBTR grammar police once they get doing Saturday chores for Mom & Dad, right?
Lol my grammar is pretty rough, but it’s becomes really brutal when I quickly type on an smartphone.
Russell Martin would be a great manager, didn’t they use him as acting manager for the last game of the season? Perhaps foreshadowing??
Martin is an interesting choice….. but won’t be hired for a couple of reasons IMO. First, I doubt he wants to hang them up yet. Despite his pedestrian batting line he is only a bad catcher if you factor in his contract. Seems to me that he may be better served as a utility type who can also help lead the team. Secondly, the guy has no experience running a team, which is (understandably) one of the key prerequisites put forward by the team for the position. I think because of these reasons you don’t even see his name mentioned as a candidate.
20 million reasons not to retire
second reason is he is winless as a manager.
Girardi should be managing somewhere. I hope not in the AL East. I respect Girardi like I respect Buck. I think both figure out ways to squeeze more wins out of there team. I honestly think watching Boone this season it became obvious that the analytic craze is the future for all new coaches and the in game managing where you make decisions based on what’s developing on the field is fading away. I like Boone calm presence but I think he’s missing some important facets of coaching that you cannot teach and when upper management has the ability to determine what happens on the field with analytics then what’s the point.
Well said.
I imagine Joe might prefer the AL East. Torontos proximity to NY would be a plus for him and 9-10 days in NY each season
Girardi should go to the Angels
The job should absolutely go to Chris Woodward. We’re talking about a true hybrid manager.
He brings an analytics approach combined with a old school fundamentals. Anyone who has played or been around Chris knows that he garners respect from both front office and players alike. He’s down to earth, highly intelligent, humble and willing to have the tough conversations about attitude and approach that many managers avoid.
Is he the sexiest candidate? Is he the big name? Does he make a splash on the front pages? No, no and no. But last year Cashman spent an entire day interviewing Woodward for the Yankees managerial role, his interview with him went longer than any other candidate. What’s more interesting is that Cashman did not know Woodward except in passing and his interest came from recommendations of those he trusts.
What you’re getting here is a high energy guy, someone with passion for the game, a manager that smiles and laughs with his guys while still being able to look them straight in the eye and tell them to what they need to be told.
So Cashman did not know Woodard. I guess then that his interview would go longer then with candidates he knew so whats your point?
A great Manager is very rare. Look at yesterday’s LA-Brewers Game 1. Counsell is considered a great young Mamager. Yet, he made a potential critical error when he wound up spending Hader for 3 innings & 50 pitches in a 5-1 game.
So for today’s Game 2, Dave Roberts can make moves with his impressive bench knowing he won’t be facing Hader. That’s a huge advantage.
I want Jays to hire a guy who won’t get out-managed, nor will he over-manage. I hope the Jays succeed in finding such a guy.
Roberts overplayed his hand also. Shouldn’t have brought in Muncy for Freese that soon.
But your last line was spot-on. Girardi would be that guy. Still can’t see Girardi wanting to manage a rebuild.
I agree completely, I too didnt like the move for Freese that early. I would have brought in Muncy with men on base, not leading off the inning.
Not really a critical error when Hader wasn’t going to pitch today anyways. If you’ve watched any Brewers baseball at all this season you’d know they’ve had a specific plan w/ Hader & it typically involves him pitching multiple innings followed by at least a day’s worth of rest. With the Dodgers ability to strike late in ballgames, and the final score 6-5, keeping Hader in doesn’t look so foolish to me. He’s got a fresh Corbin Burnes for today
That’s going to be hard because I eventually a manager will get in his own way at some point. Not to mention I’m surprised that no one ever talks about amanagers slump
I really would love to see Eduardo Perez get this job just so I don’t have to hear him on ESPN anymore.
seconded
As a Jays fan, Girardi would be a huge get, albeit unlikely. Johnny Mac would be great for the media, as he was a darling in Toronto in his playing days….
Maybe I’m just a biased Indians fan, but I think Johnny Mac would be a great candidate so I agree with you
Johnny Mac was a true joy to watch. True baseball player. Made the most of his talents to last longer in the majors than anyone likely expected! Any Jays/Indians fan from the Johnny Mac days should be biased the same!
I like the thought of Woodward. He developed himself enough to have a passable career as well. Backup infield life isn’t super glamorous but with the success of Alex Cora and Craig Counsell recently, I can see the trend continuing with one of these 2 guys.
Ex-catchers tend to have appeal around the league and Hinch success only adds to the appeal of Girardi or Matheny. I personally feel like they’d be too much of old school type managers for this next Jays’ core. The current minor league managers would be great candidates as well.
Fun to speculate.
Really disliked the Farrell hiring last time there was a big search and then he ended up managing a World Series team, so my opinion is mostly bad. Still fun to wonder!
My vote is for Johnny Mac!
Shame Woodward is no longer in consideration, wonder why? Would have thought the success of Alex Cora and Craig Counsell would have made candidates like Woodward, Johnny Mac and Stubby Clapp of interest, but clearly Shapkins want to set it up to get their boy Wedge. #FireShapkins
Disagree and may be proven wrong about the Wedge/fire part, but agree about Woodward and the other candidates.
Of the recently discussed names, I am interested by Rocco Baldelli personally.
Johnny Mac or Chris Woodward make sense, unless Girardi wants to manage a tear down and rebuild situation with a few interesting positional prospects and not much pitching
not much of a teardown left. a couple untradeable contracts in Tulo and Martin. Everyone else is on a short term contract or is already a new piece to the team…
Good call Taejonguy.
Untradeable but….
Martin has a small enough amount left that they could just release him like Hanley Ramirez or Pablo Sandoval style? Bad press, but park attendance already declining so maybe rip the band aid off?
The real question is whether they’d want Maile to share time with Jansen and pay Martin to play elsewhere, or if they’re fine with letting Maile go and letting Martin be somewhat of a mentor to Jansen.
Seems worth it to spend the money and let Martin play out his contract.
Tulo makes me wonder how things work regarding insurance. How much of his salary did the Jays actually pay last year? They’re not close to luxury tax, and Boston did such great things with the extra roster spots created from cutting their dead weight, so the thought has to start to arise if Tulo can’t show signs that he can play by spring.
Having Tulo around the clubhouse to somewhat mentor Gurriel of the finer points of shortstop seems like it has value as well. Playing minimal shortstop seems best, no matter how bad he wants it. DH him as much as possible if he can magically avoid the DL! Can’t see Solarte returning, so Travis/Tulo/Gurriel up the middle with the youngsters close enough to be the injury insurance at this point? By May, Diaz can shift to MI or be released if Travis/Tulo both healthy. Or Travis maybe on thin ice at that point? Infield seems pretty set for options. Drury/Acuna still have options? Haven’t considered this factor yet.
Trade Smoak if there’s any market for 1b? Doesn’t seem like anybody gets anything when they trade 1b at deadline time these days and the FA market for 1b always seems light. Morales recovered value and seems to be a nice fit with the other Cubans on the roster, but he really clogs the roster. Having Smoak’s D at first is valuable in my opinion. But seeing how Pearce fit in Boston and how he batted when he wasn’t an outfielder has me wondering if Tellez will see the same roster clog at 1b/DH cost him ABs and valuable development. Forcing him down for April might be worth it, but if they don’t get aggressive with the youth movement by May, then I’ll start to get on board the fire Shapkins train. I feel like the return for Smoak in the offseason would be slightly better than the return they got for Donaldson, so keep him seems best. I might be way off.
Outfield has enough options but adding a big name outfielder wouldn’t be bad. I’d prefer to see nothing but elite or semi-elite pitching added by any means. Both if I’m allowed to really dream for a few months here.
The manager hunt, the youth movement, and the upcoming amount of payroll flexibility clearly has me super excited.
Go Jays!
At this point the Jays should play out the Martin and Tulo contracts. Smoak is a trade commodity, potentially Pillar. I’d try and deal Travis immediately and if there’s no taker, non-tender him. Obviously decline Solarte’s option. Lots of infielders and I do not see Travis being part of the future if Vlad or Biggio come up mid-April.
Infielders are: Tellez, Morales, Diaz, Gurriel, Drury, Vlad, Martin. Gives Tellez a year to see if he’s real, you deal Diaz at the deadline to bring up either Biggio, Bichette or Urena (whoever is performing), and potentially deal Morales.
I still think it’s a mistake not to consider Bryce Harper. 26 year old superstar free agents don’t come around often. Vlad would have protection and the lineup could be dangerous by 2020. Morales and Martin will be off the books by then, Tulo drops from 20 to 14-mil.
fully agree on Harper but would he sign with a Canadian team? Always been a tough sell…
TaeJonguy – Probably not, unless the Jays were to severely overpay. If you are Harper, you’d want to sign with a team ready to win right now. Jays are certainly not in a position to contend.
With all the rhetoric from Shapiro/Atkins, a 26-year old free agent would be in the Jays wheelhouse. But they’ve come out and said they will not go after Harper.
You won’t release Diaz.. he has 4 years control, and all star in 2016 and played reasonably well in 2018.
I would take Joe Girardi big time!!!
he did great with the Yanks on a rebuilding yr on his last yr by running over the Tribe and taking the Astros all the way to the very last game.
1.Girardi
2.Espada
3.Alomar Jr.
those would be my top 3 choices…But Joe is my number 1 for sure !!!!
would love to see that
Girardi Vs. Boone match up
Clapp solid pick the young players like him a lot, his teams are well coached even the fall league entry his team although loaded with talent plays solid.
and repeated success at the highest levels of minor league baseball. Add in he is Canadian and has a strong tie to baseball in Canada and it seems like potentially a great match…
As a Cardinals fan, I will duel whoever tries to take the Stubbs away from us #wevegottheClapp #handsoffmyStubby
Bobby V!
Mike Mathaney did not get a fair shake from his general manager then president of baseball operations!!! After Tony LaRussa left the Cardinals, John Mozeliak never replaced an impact bat as they left or retired from the Cardinals. When a team loses the middle core of their line up, (Pujols, Edmonds, Beltran, Bergman, and even back to Scott Rolen who was under LaRussa’s career), Mozeliak’s idea was to either replace from within, or go after what he termed—-“Low Hanging Fruit.” Mathaney had less and less talent to work with each year he stayed with the Cardinals. Mathaney ended up being the fall guy for John Mozeliak. Trying to transfer the blame of lesser and lesser impact player talent each year. That is what has caused the Cardinals down fall, John Mozeliak, not Mike Mathaney. I sure hope Mathaney acquires a managerial job soon. That way, he can clear the black cloud over him as set forth by John Mozeliak.
He will run the clubhouse culture into the ground with whatever team he ends up with. He is too stubborn and refuses to learn from his mistakes; with teams realizing that the way to win is through young, cost-controlled players rather than aging free agents, his veteran-focused style of managing won’t work anymore. Baseball is a game, and most of the young kids want to have fun with it. He’s not capable of doing that, for him it’s all work and no play.
Matheny got more than a fair shake. Matheny is just not a very good Manager. For all your constant defense of Matheny you would think you would learn how to spell his name at least
You could give him the best options in the bullpen available and he would screw it up. In addition they fired every coach he had on staff at the end of 2017 and brought in Maddux to help him with the pitching staff. Apparently he refused to listen to Maddux, his arrogance and attitude was his problem, when they did fire him, coaches and players both came out and reiterated that claim. Matheny will not get another shot.
Perhaps Bobby Cox
Heard John Farrell might be available……
Funny 🙂
All for naming Stubby Clapp. The fun can have with that name is beyond hilarious. How did that guy ever get that nickname and live it down to go along with his last name?
Sam Fuld would be a great communicator between the front office and the players in the clubhouse (as a former player), but being that he’s a Type 1 diabetic, that’s probably why he isn’t being considered. I don’t think he will get the opportunity or be able to handle the grind of a 162-game season without needing significant rest and/or time off. I could only imagine the first time he has an argument with an umpire or ended up getting ejected.
I say this with all due respect, but I don’t think that’s how diabetes works. And even if it did, he was able to be a pro ball player for over a decade but can’t manage?
I agree. Flud was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was ten years old, so he knows how to handle it. In 2015, the last year he played, he was in 120 games, and I dare say in terms of the disease, playing is much more of a strain than managing.
Joe Girardi would be my pick on this one. That will give NY all kinds of headaches since he knows his former team, organization and players very well. bring him in Jay’s brass.
What’s going on with the Stubby Clapp? Is he a candidate or not? Seems weird he’d say he hasnt been contacted, yet he’s rumored all over the place.
Whatever happen to Jason Giambi as being a high manager possibility a couple years ago?
Giambi’s chances need an injection
I guess Willie Randolph has vanished into oblivion.
Sprague is a link to the glory years. Wouldn’t be a bad hire.
Agreed. Look at what Aaron Boone’s heroics in 2003 game seven did in helping him get the Yankee job. What happened to Johnny Mac, Stubby Clapp and Chris Woodward ?
Baldelli I think is a very intriguing name on this list. I seem to remember in the past he was called a student of the game and with the trend of younger managers, especially with the success of Cora and Boone in the AL East, Baldelli could be an interesting choice.
Is there something wrong with Joe McEwing? Why is he not being considered for any managerial job.? Mike Matheny? He might be the worst manager on any short list.
Will Toronto say we got the ” Clapp” and say it with a straight face.
Is Matheny a legit contender for the job
Cito Gaston
Someone needs to give DeMarlo Hale a shot. He’d be a great manager.