Jim Riggleman

Marlins Notes: Sixto, Wendle, Advisors

By Mark Polishuk | February 11, 2023 at 2:12pm CDT

Sixto Sanchez hasn’t pitched since his breakout 2020 rookie season, and naturally, “the frustration was really high” for the right-hander as he continued to battle through shoulder injuries. “It was really hard because it was just setback after setback, and just trying to come back and see that and trying to maintain that positive energy was very difficult. But thank goodness we’re here where we’re at right now and looking forward,” Sanchez told MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola and other reporters. After two full missed seasons and a pair of shoulder surgeries, Sanchez has thrown five bullpen sessions to date, and estimates that he is around 85% readiness as he heads into what he hopes will be a healthy and uninterrupted Spring Training.

It has been just over four years since the Marlins dealt J.T. Realmuto to the Phillies for a trade package that included Sanchez as a centerpiece. The right-hander looked to be living up to the hype in 2020, yet two lost years has basically led to a reset on Sanchez’s career. As he prepared to return to action, Sanchez’s commitment to health extends beyond just shoulder rehab, as he has also lost 46 pounds since last year after adopting new diet and training methods.

Jim Riggleman To Manage Pioneer League’s Billings Mustangs

By Anthony Franco | February 9, 2022 at 8:03pm CDT

Longtime big league coach and manager Jim Riggleman has been hired to manage the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League, according to an announcement from Mustangs’ clubhouse manager Harrison Faulk (Twitter link). The Pioneer League is an independent circuit designated as an official partner league of Major League Baseball.

Riggleman played in the minors during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, topping out at Triple-A. He’s more known for his post-playing accomplishments, as he’s spent the better part of four decades coaching and managing. Riggleman spent most of the 1980’s as a minor league skipper in the Cardinals’ farm system. He got his first MLB managerial opportunity with the Padres in 1992, holding that role for three seasons. Riggleman managed the Cubs for the second half of that decade.

Over the past couple decades, Riggleman has worked more frequently as a bench coach. He spent some time as an interim skipper with the Mariners in 2008, then took over the Nationals’ dugout on an interim basis the following season. Riggleman was promoted to full-time manager in the nation’s capital, holding the role until resigning midway through the 2011 campaign. He’d again get to lead a dugout in an interim capacity in 2018, taking over for the Reds after Cincinnati dismissed Bryan Price that April.

The Reds didn’t retain Riggleman after the season, and he spent the 2019 campaign as Mets’ bench coach. Now 69 years old, he’ll make the jump to the independent ranks with the Mustangs.

Mets To Replace Jim Riggleman As Bench Coach

By Mark Polishuk | October 3, 2019 at 4:46pm CDT

Mickey Callaway’s firing has drawn most of the headlines out of Queens today, though the Mets will also be making a change at bench coach, as MLB.com’s William Ladson (Twitter link) reports that Jim Riggleman will not return to the club in 2020.

Riggleman was hired as bench coach last winter, making the Mets the latest stop in a 46-year career as a player, coach, and manager all over the baseball world. Riggleman is best known for his time as a manager, posting a 726-904 record over five stints with the Padres, Cubs, Mariners, Nationals, and Reds, most recently serving as Cincinnati’s interim manager during the 2018 season. His vast experience in MLB dugouts was seen as a key factor in his hiring with the Mets, who were looking for a veteran voice to assist Callaway, who had just completed his first season as a Major League manager (and indeed, as a manager at any level).

Mets Hire Jim Riggleman As Bench Coach

By Jeff Todd | November 26, 2018 at 6:27pm CDT

The Mets announced that they have hired Jim Riggleman to serve as their next bench coach, with Jon Heyman tweeting the news just before the team did. He’ll be the top member of manager Mickey Callaway’s staff.

In 2018, Callaway’s first at the helm of the dugout, the club utilized Gary DiSarcina as the bench coach. But DiSarcina was reassigned to serve as third base coach, with new GM Brodie Van Wagenen making clear the organization preferred to bring on a new bench coach that had prior experience running games in the National League.

Rigglemen certainly fits the mold of what the Mets said they were seeking. The 66-year-old has served as the manager of five clubs, four of them in the National League. Through 13 total seasons as a big league skipper, including gigs with the Padres, Cubs, Mariners, Nationals, and Reds, Riggleman carries a 726-904 record.

Most recently, Riggleman functioned in an interim capacity with the Reds. He managed the Cincinnati ballclub for most of the 2018 campaign, taking over for Bryan Price after opening the year as their bench coach. Riggleman was considered as a candidate for the full-time position but was bypassed in favor of David Bell.

Quick Hits: Castellanos, Astros, deGrom, Riggleman, Free Agents

By Mark Polishuk | November 12, 2018 at 2:18pm CDT

The Astros made an offer to the Tigers for right fielder Nick Castellanos prior to last July’s trade deadline, according to Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). Houston was known to be aggressively pursuing a big outfield bat last summer, even to the point of almost completing a trade with the Nationals for Bryce Harper, and also inquiring about Tommy Pham (then with the Cardinals) and White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia. Fenech suggests that Castellanos could again be a target for the Astros this offseason, and he explores in a longer piece for the Detroit Free Press that it is becoming increasingly likely that the Tigers will trade Castellanos due to a lack of extension talks between the two sides.

Castellanos would help the Astros as either a corner outfielder or, perhaps more likely, as a DH given Castellanos’ defensive limitations and the fact that incumbent Houston designated hitter Evan Gattis is hitting free agency. Since Castellanos is only controlled through the 2019 season, he would give the Astros a short-term boost in their quest for another World Series while also not serving as a long-term block to youngsters Tyler White, Kyle Tucker, and J.D. Davis.

Mets Rumors: Bullpen, Maldonado, McNeil, Coaching Staff

By Steve Adams | November 9, 2018 at 11:38am CDT

There’s been plenty of attention centered on the Mets’ bullpen needs this offseason, and new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen plainly indicated yesterday that his team is in the market for “multiple” bullpen pieces (Twitter link, with video, via MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo). “I can’t imagine we’d be looking to try and do a ’one and done’ situation,” said Van Wagenen. As for the type of reliever he’s looking for, Van Wagenen spoke in general terms — missing bats, controlling the strike zone — but suggested that closing experience might not be a big factor. In fact, it seems there’s no guarantee the Mets even plan to use a set closer in 2019.

“I think a lot of teams are going away from a traditional closer,” said Van Wagenen. “I think we had — in [Robert] Gsellman and [Seth] Lugo last year — a lot was asked of those two guys. They were about as good as they could be. As long as we can control their workload and not put them in situations that are over-taxing, I think both those guys can get outs at the back end of the game — the last three outs in particular. We’ll see whether other guys can be added to that mix.”

Here’s more from Queens…

In other Mets news, Van Wagenen says he feels the club is at least “covered” at the catching position, as Tim Healey of Newsday writes. That won’t stop the organization from looking at upgrades. In fact, the Mets have made a strong early push for glove-first backstop Martin Maldonado, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. It seems he’s the club’s top catching target in free agency, with Wilson Ramos of secondary interest. Meanwhile, pursuit of star Marlins backstop J.T. Realmuto does not sound particularly realistic. The Fish are evidently not enamored of the top New York prospects, so there may not be a deal to be made. (What should Realmuto cost in a trade? Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs took a worthwhile look at the subject.)
Though late-blooming Jeff McNeil’s MLB audition lasted just over two months last season, he looks to have done enough to assure himself a spot in next year’s lineup. Van Wagenen said at this week’s GM Meetings that McNeil is “penciled in” as the team’s everyday second baseman for the 2019 season (Twitter link via Healey). McNeil opened eyes with a .329/.381/.471 slash through 248 plate appearances, and while he only homered three times in 63 games, he also hit 11 doubles and racked up six triples in that time. Most encouraging of all, perhaps, was the infielder’s minuscule 9.7 percent strikeout rate. Even if his .359 average on balls in play regresses, as one would expect, McNeil’s knack for putting the ball in play should help him hit for a quality average and get on base at a solid clip.
The Mets have some coaching vacancies to fill, including hitting coach and bench coach. Puma tweets that former D-backs hitting coach Dave Magadan is among the Mets’ candidates to replace Pat Roessler at that position, while Matt Ehalt of the North Jersey Bergen Record tweets that former Cubs/Red Sox hitting coach Chili Davis could also be in the mix. Meanwhile, Jim Riggleman, who recently left the Reds after being passed over for their managerial vacancy, is a candidate to take over as Mickey Callaway’s bench coach, Ehalt adds.

Reds Part Ways With Jim Riggleman

By Mark Polishuk | October 28, 2018 at 4:07pm CDT

4:07pm: Pat Kelly, who was Cincinnati’s interim bench coach under Riggleman, is likely to return to the team’s minor league system, a source tells Nightengale. Kelly was the Reds’ Triple-A manager before joining Riggleman’s staff. He was among those who interviewed for the Reds’ managerial opening prior to Bell’s hiring.

2:22pm: The Reds won’t be keeping Jim Riggleman in the organization in 2019, Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports (Twitter link). The interim manager for much of the 2018 season, Riggleman interviewed for the full-time job before the Reds hired David Bell as their next skipper earlier this week.

Riggleman has spent the last seven years within the Reds organization, managing at the Double-A and Triple-A levels, and then working as a third base coach and bench coach for the Major League team. He took the managerial reins on April 19 when Bryan Price was fired in the wake of a brutal 3-15 start to the season, and Riggleman did right the ship to some extent, leading Cincinnati to an even 45-45 record over the next 90 games. As the team faded down the stretch, however, Riggleman was left with a 64-80 record as skipper. Nonetheless, there still appeared to be a solid chance that Riggleman would lose the interim tag, as his performance reportedly impressed owner Robert Castellini and many in the Reds’ front office.

There was some speculation that Riggleman could remain with the Reds in some capacity, possibly as a minor league manager again or potentially even his old bench coach role (if the team had stayed in-house and hired John Farrell to manage). Instead, the 65-year-old will now look elsewhere to continue a coaching and managing career that has lasted since 1983. Riggleman is one of a select group who have managed five different Major League teams, with different stints running the dugouts for the Reds, Nationals, Mariners, Cubs, and Padres.

Reds’ Managerial Search Enters Second Round

By Jeff Todd | October 20, 2018 at 4:44pm CDT

The Reds are well into their search for a new manager, as has long been anticipated. Interim skipper Jim Riggleman took over after Bryan Price was fired and was at the helm for most of the 2018 season, but the club is determined to consider an array of candidates before naming the next full-time dugout leader. As we did last year with other openings of this kind, we’ll use this post to track the early developments in the hiring process in Cincinnati.

Latest Update — Oct. 20

Per Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi (Twitter link), Giants VP of Player Development and former MLB third baseman David Bell is the now the favorite to be offered the job.
The Reds informed Jim Riggleman today that he will not return as manager, according to William Ladson on Twitter.

Earlier Update — Oct. 17

Ausmus and Girardi are also still under consideration, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter). Both are slated for additional interviews, MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon adds on Twitter. It seems they’ll join Bell to make up a group of three finalists, per Jon Heyman of Fancred (Twitter link).
The Reds conducted interviews with the 12 candidates listed below and won’t speak with anyone else, per John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick tweets that there’s a growing sense that David Bell “has the inside track,” though he notes that Rocco Baldelli’s interview went “extremely well,” too, placing Baldelli “strongly in the mix.”

Click to view full overview of managerial search:

Have Interviewed

The Reds interviewed Rays bench coach Charlie Montoyo and Giants bench coach Hensley Meulens, Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Rays major league field coordinator Rocco Baldelli met with the Reds representatives last week, making him the 12th candidate for the job in Cincinnati, Rosecrans tweets. The 37-year-old Baldelli, an outfielder with the Rays and Red Sox from 2003-10, has also served as a special assistant for baseball operations and a first base coach in Tampa Bay since his playing career ended. Baldelli is also a candidate in other managerial searches.
The Reds have interviewed Pirates bench coach Tom Prince, reports C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic (via Twitter). The 54-year-old appeared in parts of 17 seasons as a backup catcher between the Pirates, Dodgers, Twins, Phillies and Royals before retiring following the 2003 season. He began his coaching career as a manager on the independent circuit more than a dozen years ago and has been rising through the Pirates’ ranks since 2007, managing at multiple minor league levels before ascending to his current role of bench coach prior to the 2017 season.
The Reds have interviewed former Yankees manager Joe Girardi, Fancred Sports’ Jon Heyman reports. Interim skipper Jim Riggleman and former Red Sox manager John Farrell have also sat down for interviews with the team, as have ex-Tigers skipper Brad Ausmus and Giants farm director David Bell. “The strong belief for now” is that the Reds will hire one of Girardi, Riggleman, Farrell, Bell or Ausmus. Bell may be the favorite for the job, Heyman hears.
The Reds sat down with three current coaches recently as part of the interview process: bench coach Pat Kelly, third base coach Billy Hatcher, and first base coach Freddie Benavides. It’s not clear at this point whether any of the trio of former big leaguers is anticipated to have a real shot at the gig. Of the group, Hatcher has by far the most experience in a major-league coaching capacity, having put in nearly two decades with the Rays and Reds. Kelly had been the Triple-A skipper but came up to the MLB staff when Price was fired. Benavides, meanwhile, has been on the staff since 2016.

Not Under Consideration

Barry Larkin, the Hall-of-Fame infielder who currently works in a player development capacity in the organization, is not under consideration for the opening. Williams does note that Larkin “still has managing as a long-term goal.”
There was “some communication” between Dick Williams and Eduardo Perez, per Fay. However, with the 12 candidates now known and no further interviews scheduled, it seems that the two sides never sat down for a more formal chat.

Managerial Notes: Showalter, Riggleman, Mattingly

By Steve Adams | September 20, 2018 at 4:56pm CDT

Earlier this afternoon it was reported that the Rangers are considering moving on from skipper Jeff Banister following the season. In the wake of that report, here’s some more chatter regarding managers whose futures have had some uncertainty surrounding them…

Fancred’s Jon Heyman reports in this week’s notes column that Orioles manager Buck Showalter is “very likely” to be replaced following this season, though the venerable veteran has yet to be definitively informed one way or another by team decision-makers. The decision on general manager Dan Duquette is more up in the air, per the report, and could yet go either way. Showalter has been managing the O’s since 2010 and guided the team to a 666-677 record that is largely skewed by the unmitigated disaster that has been the 2018 season. He’s among the game’s most respected managers, though there have been reports questioning his job security throughout the season.
In light of recent reports that interim Reds manager Jim Riggleman is a favorite of owner Bob Castellini, Heyman adds that Riggleman additionally has numerous fans in the Cincinnati front office. The 65-year-old Riggleman has a decent chance at being tabbed the team’s long-term skipper, though former Red Sox manager John Farrell will be among those considered to step into that role as well. The Reds hired Farrell to work for them in a scouting capacity last offseason.
Asked by Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald whether manager Don Mattingly will return for the 2019 season (Twitter link), Marlins CEO Derek Jeter suggested that to be the case, rhetorically replying, “He’s under contract, right?” Mattingly is indeed under contract, but only through the 2019 campaign. Beyond that, it’s not clear whether new Miami ownership has plans to bring in a manager of their own preference — Mattingly was inherited from the previous regime — or whether there’s interest in extending him beyond the ’19 season. Mattingly’s Marlins clubs haven’t had much success, and that’s truer than ever in 2018, though he wasn’t given much to work with heading into the current campaign following last offseason’s organizational tear-down.

Quick Hits: Turner, Kela, Lorenzen, Reds, Vazquez

By Mark Polishuk | September 15, 2018 at 5:22pm CDT

Justin Turner and the Dodgers received a scare when the star third baseman was hit on his left hand and wrist area by a pitch in the third inning of today’s 17-4 win over the Cardinals. Fortunately for all parties, Turner remained in the game until the eighth inning, when he was removed just because the Dodgers had their big lead. Turner missed the first six weeks of the season after another hit-by-pitch fractured that same wrist during Spring Training, and he told Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register (Twitter links) and other media that today’s ball found the same spot on his body. “Could have been worse if I wasn’t wearing the pad,” Turner said, referring to the protective gear he has worn since the initial injury. X-rays were negative on Turner’s hand and wrist, so it looks like another injury has been avoided. After a bit of a slow start that might well have been caused by his DL stint, Turner has been on fire over the last several weeks and is now hitting .318/.415/.531 over 366 PA on the season.

Some more from around baseball…

The Pirates have shut reliever Keone Kela down for the season, as per a statement released to media (including Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Kela, acquired from the Rangers at the July trade deadline, has a 2.93 ERA over 15 1/3 innings for the Bucs but he hasn’t taken the mound since September 3. He has thrown 52 total innings for Pittsburgh and Texas this season, which GM Neal Huntington cited as the reason for the shutdown. “This was primarily based on his high leverage workload this year compared to the previous two seasons,” Huntington said in the statement. The decision was made to give Kela “an optimal amount of rest and recovery to be ready in spring training 2019.“
Michael Lorenzen will start the Reds’ game against the Brewers on Tuesday, interim manager Jim Riggleman told Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer and other media. Lorenzen has pitched exclusively as a reliever from 2016-18, posting solid numbers as a setup man and multi-inning reliever out of the Reds’ bullpen. He has often expressed an interest in returning to starting pitching, however, and was stretched out as a starter last Spring Training before some poor numbers and a shoulder injury necessitated a return to the bullpen. “But we are looking at ’19 and who is going to be our starters,” Riggleman said. “We have an idea who some of them will be, but we will look at Mike here a little bit. It’ll be a very small sample, but we’ll get a little feel for it.”
In other Reds news, president of baseball operations Dick Williams confirmed to reporters (including John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer) that Riggleman will receive an interview for the full-time managerial position. Besides that, Williams was short on details about the managerial search, other than to say that no interviews have yet taken place, and the Reds wouldn’t be publicly commenting on which people were or weren’t candidates. Fay speculates that the team will stick with Riggleman if they want an experienced “traditional pick” of a manager, though it remains to be seen what sort of more outside-the-box names (if any) could be considered.
“There could be a big market for” Christian Vazquez should the Red Sox make him available in trade talks, rival executives tell the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo. This scenario would’ve been seemed unthinkable last March, when the Sox signed Vazquez to a three-year, $13.55MM extension that seemingly made him Boston’s long-term answer behind the plate. 2018 has been essentially a lost season for Vazquez, however, as he has hit only .213/.256/.298 over 239 PA and missed just under eight weeks with a fractured pinky finger on his throwing hand. Offense has never been a big plus for the defensively-stellar Vazquez, though with Sandy Leon and Blake Swihart behind the plate, Cafardo wonders if the Sox could move Vazquez to address other needs.

Load More Posts

Show all

Headlines

Jim Riggleman

Navigation

MLBTR INFO

Connect