Cubs narrowing list of managerial candidates
CHICAGO -- The Cubs appear to be trimming their list of initial candidates for the vacant manager's job, while waiting to talk to former Indians and Mariners manager Eric Wedge and Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo.
FOX Sports and MLB Network's Ken Rosenthal reported on Saturday that A.J. Hinch and Rick Renteria will get second interviews with the Cubs. Hinch and Renteria were among the first four candidates whom Theo Epstein, Cubs president of baseball operations, talked to.
The Cubs will also interview Wedge on Tuesday. Wedge, 45, was the American League manager of the year in 2007, when the Indians won 96 games and finished first in the American League Central. He compiled a 561-573 record in Cleveland, but was dismissed after a 97-loss season in 2009.
Wedge had been the Mariners' manager since 2011, posting a 213-273 record, but left the team before the regular season ended, saying it was "painfully obvious" that he wasn't part of Seattle's future. Wedge also missed 27 games this season after suffering a minor stroke.
Renteria, 51, is a hot commodity, and interviewed this week for the Mariners' job. He managed four seasons in the Padres' Minor League system before joining the big league staff as Bud Black's bench coach. In March, Renteria managed Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. He played parts of five seasons with the Pirates, Mariners and Marlins, and has managed in the Marlins and Padres organizations.
Hinch, 39, managed the D-backs for parts of the 2009-10 seasons. He is now in the Padres' front office and involved with player development, which will be a key requirement for the next Cubs manager -- with young players such as Javier Baez, Kris Bryant and Albert Almora on the horizon.
There were also reports that Epstein wants to talk to Lovullo, 48, whom Boston manager John Farrell has endorsed. Lovullo's name has been mentioned as a possible successor in Detroit, as well. Epstein hired Lovullo to manage the Red Sox's Triple-A Pawtucket team in 2010, but any discussions will wait until after the World Series ends.
Epstein did talk to Dave Martinez, 49, a former Cubs outfielder who has been the Rays' bench coach the last six seasons, and former Indians and Nationals manager Manny Acta, 44, as well.
The Cubs, Mariners and Tigers are in the market for a new manager. The Reds acted quickly, promoting pitching coach Bryan Price to manager this week to replace Dusty Baker, while the Nationals have reportedly hired Matt Williams to replace Davey Johnson. The only deadline Epstein has set, is to have someone in place by Nov. 11 -- when the General Manager Meetings are held.