Rangers focused on three managerial candidates
Bogar, Cash and Banister named finalists for job
ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have narrowed their managerial search down to three finalists: interim manager Tim Bogar, Indians bullpen coach Kevin Cash and Pirates bench coach Jeff Banister.
The Rangers have given no indication when they will make a final decision, but general manager Jon Daniels said from the beginning the goal was to have a manager before the start of the World Series.
The Rangers also interviewed pitching coach Mike Maddux, Triple-A manager Steve Buechele, White Sox third-base coach Joe McEwing, Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo and Puerto Rico winter league executive Alex Cora.
Bogar was the Rangers' manager for the final 22 games after Ron Washington resigned on Sept. 5. Texas won 13 of its last 16 games.
Banister is a Texas native with an extraordinary background. He developed bone cancer in his left leg in high school that doctors initially wanted to amputate. But the leg was saved through multiple operations and he continued his baseball career in college. At Baytown (Tx.) College, he suffered a crushed vertebrae as a catcher in a collision at home plate and was paralyzed for 10 days.
He still ended up playing at the University of Houston and was drafted by the Pirates in the 25th round of the 1986 First-Year Player Draft. Banister has spent 29 years in the Pirates organization as a player, coach and Minor League coordinator. He had one at-bat in the Major Leagues, hitting a single in 1992.
Cash, 37, is the youngest candidate and the least experienced of the remaining three. He has spent the past two seasons with the Indians and one year as the Blue Jays' advance scout after his playing career ended in 2011.
A native of Tampa who played at Florida State, Cash was undrafted out of college and signed by Toronto in 1999. He ended up playing eight years in the Major Leagues with the Blue Jays, Rays, Red Sox, Yankees and Astros. He also spent 2011 with the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock. It was at Round Rock where Texas identified him as somebody with a bright post-playing career.