Phillies manager search: Who’s in, who’s out?
Where do the Phillies stand in their search for a new manager?
Two big names in baseball’s annual manager search have been taken off the table. With Boston and Detroit appearing to have their new leaders in place the Phillies and general manager Matt Klentak continue to conduct interviews.
After going through multiple in-house candidates the team is broadening their search and taking a look at several west coast teams for answers.
Here’s a full list of the reported names interviewed, no longer in the running, and potential sleepers.
Philadelphia Phillies
Interviewed
Juan Samuel – Former player & third base coach
Jorge Velandia – Phillies player development coach
Dusty Wathan – Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs manager
Chip Hale – Oakland Athletics third base coach/Former Diamondbacks manager
Phil Nevin – San Francisco Giants third base coach
Manny Acta – Former Nationals manager
Gabe Kapler – Dodgers player development director
Reported Interest
Mike Redmond – Former Marlins manager/Rockies bench coach
Brad Ausmus – Former Tigers manager
Tim Bogar – Former Seattle Mariners bench coach
Gary DiSarcina – Former Red Sox bench coach
Ron Gardenhire – Named Detroit Tigers manager on Oct. 20
Alex Cora – Reportedly signing with Boston Red Sox post-World Series
Mickey Callaway – Reportedly signing with the New York Mets; current Cleveland Indians pitching coach
Ruben Amaro Jr. – Former general manager/Red Sox first base coach
Larry Bowa – Former manager/bench coach; named special adviser to the general manager
Buck Showalter – Baltimore Orioles manager
John Farrell – Former Red Sox manager
Potential Surprises
Dusty Baker – Former Nationals/Reds manager
Raul Ibanez – Former player
Next: Five veteran candidates for manager
Callaway has been a guy I’ve pinpointed from day one, and in my mind is the odds-on favorite to win the job. With incredible success in Cleveland Callaway has a track record of building a young team up at a relatively young age.
Hale and Nevin were major surprises in the search, but it’s good to know Klentak is leaving no stone unturned. Perhaps one or the other becomes a bench/hitting coach under the next manager.