ARLINGTON -- The Rangers interview count continues to rise as they search for a new manager to replace Jeff Banister. Dodgers third-base coach Chris Woodward is the latest, having interviewed with the Rangers on Thursday.
Woodward follows Twins dugout coach Derek Shelton, who interviewed earlier this week. The Rangers have now interviewed at least 11 candidates for their managerial opening since the search began one month ago.
Woodward has been the Dodgers' third-base coach for the past three seasons. He spent one year as the Mariners' Minor League infield coordinator in 2013 and their infield coach in '14 for two years before moving to the Dodgers. Last year, the 42-year-old interviewed for the Yankees' managerial job that ultimately went to Aaron Boone.
He spent 12 seasons in the Major Leagues as an infielder with the Blue Jays, Mets, Braves, Mariners and Red Sox. His only managerial experience was with New Zealand in the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifying tournament in '16.
The Rangers' search has leaned strongly toward candidates who are currently on Major League coaching staffs. Shelton was the Twins' bench coach this past season and has 12 years of experience as a Major League hitting coach. He had three years of Minor League managerial experience in the Yankees' organization.
Only two of the Rangers' known 11 candidates have managed at the Major League level. Don Wakamatsu was the Mariners' manager in 2009-10 before serving as the Rangers' interim manager for the final 10 games of this past season. The Rangers also interviewed former Marlins and Yankees manager Joe Girardi, but he is no longer in consideration.
The other candidates remaining include Astros bench coach Joe Espada, Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde, Phillies third-base coach Dusty Wathan, Angels special assistant Eric Chavez and Rangers farm director Jayce Tingler. The Rangers also interviewed David Bell before he was hired as Reds manager and Rocco Baldelli before he was hired by the Twins.