MLB Manager Rumors
Seven major league teams are looking for a new manager. The manager rumors are already beginning to swirl. In this day and age of analytics, more first-year managers are having successful seasons. Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora won the world series in 2018 as a first-year manager. Rocco Baldelli of the Minnesota Twins won 100 games this season in his first year as a big-league manager.
The current trend is to not hire the older former managers who are successful. This is due partly to the salary these managers will command. Also, general managers want more control over how the team is run.
The seven teams looking for new managers are the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants.
Big Apple Dreams For Girardi
If you have been watching the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays ALDS games on FS1 you would have heard references made about Joe Girardi’s interest in becoming the Mets skipper. It actually sounds like Girardi is heading back to the Big Apple. Girardi managed the New York Yankees for 10 seasons before he was let go after leading his team to the seventh game of the ALCS in 2017.
No doubt Girardi would love to lead the Mets to a championship and stick it to the Yankees in the process. Girardi does have an interview with the Cubs set up. Girardi debuted with the Cubs and spent seven seasons across two stints on the South Side.
Joe Girardi, who has Cubs interview coming up, is said keenly interested in Mets as well. Both big market teams bring chance to win and he has roots in both cities. One thing: Cubs appear likely to stay in-house, Mets wide open. Also, clamoring for Joe G among Mets fans.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 5, 2019
Brodie’s First Manager Hire
Since firing Mickey Callaway after two years the rumor mill cranked up into high gear almost immediately with potential candidates ranging from experienced to first-time managers. Mets General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen inherited Callaway so this is his first time hiring a manager on at any level.
Dusty Baker and Buck Showalter are two very experienced managers who have thrown their names into the mix already. Also, former Met players such as John Franco, Carlos Beltran, David Cone, Joe McEwing and David Wright are also reportedly being interested in becoming the next Mets manager. Luis Rojas is also a candidate worth mentioning due to his high regard within the Mets organization.
Other potential managerial candidates include Joey Cora and Manny Acta. Both have close ties to top Mets executive Omar Minaya. One huge factor in the Mets manager search is the salary they are willing to pay. Willie Randolph was the last Mets manager to make as much as two million dollars a season. Randolph last managed for the Mets over 10 years ago. The Mets have not confirmed any interviews with any candidates as of yet.
The War For Maddon
When Joe Maddon and the Cubs parted ways two potential suitors have shown interest in the manager. A lot of baseball people are saying that Maddon to the Angels is all but done. But that is not stopping the Padres from wooing Maddon to San Diego. The Angels fired Brad Ausmus when Maddon became available. The Padres fired Andy Green before the season ended and reportedly had a list of five candidates they were looking into. Once Maddon became available he moved to the top of the list.
Those five candidates on the Padres list are former managers Bruce Bochy, Mike Scioscia, and Ron Washington along with Moises Alou and Mark Loretta. The Angels seem to be in Maddon or bust mode. Currently, there is not any potential manager rumors swirling around the Angels.
Joe Maddon will interview with the #Angels early this week and they are his No. 1 choice, sources tell The Athletic. Maddon spent 31 years in Angels’ organization before joining the Rays as manager in 2006. First to report interview with LAA: @Buster_ESPN.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 6, 2019
Padres are doing background work on Joe Maddon. While a lot of folks are figuring Maddon is ticketed for the Angels, the Padres aren’t assuming it.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 4, 2019
Cubs Staying In House
Aside from having an interest in Girardi, there are strong rumors indicating the Cubs could stay in house in selecting their next manager. Current coach Mark Loretta already had an interview. Will Venable and former Cub David Ross will have their interviews this week. General Manager Theo Epstein has stated he would be more comfortable with a manager who has done it before. Epstein also promises to look far and wide for the next Cubs manager.
Cubs have begun managerial interviews. Mark Loretta interviewed yesterday. Joe Girardi, David Ross and Will Venable will interview next week.
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) October 4, 2019
Giant-Sized List of Candidates
Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi has stated he will likely have 6 to 8 external candidates and two internal candidates to become the next manager of the San Francisco Giants. The San Francisco Chronicle has a list of ten possible candidates based on Zaidi’s comments. The internal candidates are Hensley Meulens and Ron Wotus.
One of the external candidates is Maddon. As long as he is available you might as well kick the tires on him. Mark Kotsay is one name said to be gaining a lot of steam. He joins a list of candidates that includes Raul Ibanez, Eric Chavez, Bob Melvin, Ron Washington, Bob Geren, and Stephen Vogt. It is also reported that Pedro Grifol is also a candidate.
Hear Mark Kotsay is a strong candidate for the #SFGiants managerial job. A’s quality control coach is hot new name on market.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 4, 2019
The Buc Stops Here
The Pirates manager search is said to include internal candidates such as Jeff Banister, Tom Prince and Joey Cora. If the Pirates look outside of their organization names like Derek Shelton, Sam Fuld, Dusty Wathan, Vance Wilson, and McEwing will be considered.
Clint Hurdle was let go after spending nine seasons as the Pirates skipper. The 2019 season ended with the Pirates having an abysmal second half and also the cloud of the Felipe Vazquez legal issues.
New King In Kansas City
Mike Matheny is strongly rumored to be the next manager of the Royals. However internal candidates such as Dale Sveum and Grifol will be considered. The ownership of the team is still in limbo and that could delay the process of hiring a new manager.
It has been reported that the Royals list of candidates is very short.
Mike Matheny is favorite for Royals managing job. KC is said to love its internal candidates, including also Pedro Grifol/Dale Sveum. But people outside the org are convinced Matheny has the inside track. One complication: an in-flux ownership situation could delay things.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 3, 2019
