The Pirates’ search for a general manager may be coming closer to a conclusion.
According to a report by the New York Post on Sunday, the club has narrowed its list of finalists to three names, two of which are Blue Jays vice president of baseball operations Ben Cherington and Brewers vice president and assistant GM Matt Arnold. Both Cherington and Arnold will interview again with the club this week, a source told MLB.com's Adam Berry.
The third candidate is Astros assistant GM Pete Putila, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. Putila, who has been running Houston's player development since 2016, interviewed in Pittsburgh after the World Series, and he also interviewed for the Giants' GM job this offseason, which ultimately went to former Cubs executive Scott Harris.
Cherington, who was previously listed as a candidate by MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal, comes with experience as a general manager, having served in the role for the Red Sox from 2011-15. He oversaw Boston’s rise from a last-place finish in the American League East in 2012 to a World Series title in ’13, thanks in part to his free-agent signings in the offseason between those two campaigns.
Cherington had a hand in the creation of the talented Red Sox core group that won the 2018 World Series, including the drafting of 2018 AL MVP Award winner Mookie Betts in ’11 and postseason hero Andrew Benintendi in ’15. Cherington also reportedly declined to interview for GM jobs last offseason, hoping to help build an organization from the ground up, which would fall in line with Pittsburgh’s situation.
Oddly enough, Cherington is also connected with Neal Huntington, the Pirates’ former GM who was dismissed in October. They both played baseball at Amherst College, and they are both natives of New Hampshire.
Arnold, who MLB.com’s Berry listed as a name to watch in the search last month, has shown success in his roles in more budget-friendly environments. He got his start in the Majors as a scout for the Rays in 2007, moving his way up the ladder to become the director of professional scouting, then the director of player personnel.
The Brewers hired Arnold as assistant GM after the conclusion of the 2015 season, and the team has been to the postseason in two of the four years he’s helped oversee baseball operations. It’s put him on the radar of multiple clubs and earned him high praise from his peers, including Brewers GM David Stearns.
"I'll avoid commenting on that specific situation,” Stearns said Tuesday of Arnold’s reported link to the Pirates, “but in terms of what Matt has contributed to our organization, he's been a key part of what we've built here. He's involved in every aspect of our operation. I think he rightfully has earned a lot of respect throughout the industry, and he's deserving of the attention he's receiving."
Arnold’s success working with a more constrained budget also falls in line with Pirates president Travis Williams’ goal to draw from “other teams in other marketplaces like Pittsburgh that are able to do it successfully on a sustained basis,” especially with regards to player development. Tampa Bay and Milwaukee would certainly fit that description.
Cruz reportedly leaving the Pirates
MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy reported Tuesday that Jacob Cruz, the Pirates’ assistant hitting coach in 2019, has been hired by the Brewers. Neither club has confirmed the situation, and Graves was not available for comment on Tuesday at the General Managers Meetings.
Last season was Cruz’s only year as a part of the Pirates’ coaching staff. He was popular in the clubhouse, and despite Pittsburgh’s struggles as a team, some of its bats were brought out under Cruz’s supervision. Most notably, Josh Bell raked his way to 77 extra-base hits, including a career-high 37 homers, and Bryan Reynolds posted a .314/.377/.503 slash line that helped him earn consideration for the NL Rookie of the Year Award.
Prior to his tenure in Pittsburgh, Cruz served two years with the Cubs, splitting time as Minor League hitting coordinator and hitting coach for Double-A Tennessee. The Pirates’ decision on Cruz’s replacement likely won’t come in the immediate future, as decisions on the coaching staff often depend on the team’s manager, a position which the Pirates have yet to fill.