Rangers will interview six candidates, including Bogar

ANAHEIM -- Tim Bogar is one of six candidates who will interview for the Rangers managerial opening beginning early next week.

The other five candidates are from outside the organization: Pirates bench coach Jeff Banister, Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo, White Sox third-base coach Joe McEwing, Indians bullpen coach Kevin Cash and Alex Cora, who manages Caguas in the Puerto Rico Winter League.

The Rangers have already interviewed pitching coach Mike Maddux and third-base coach Steve Buechele. The Rangers are hoping to have a manager in place by the World Series. None of the Rangers candidates have ever been a fulltime manager in the Major Leagues.

Bogar took over as manager after Ron Washington stepped down on Sept. 5 and guided the Rangers to a 14-8 record. They won 13 of their last 16 games. Bogar also has been granted permission to interview with the Diamondbacks for their managerial opening.

"Tim is obviously a very strong candidate for our managerial position, but we also understand that he has to look at all potential opportunities as we go through our process," general manager Jon Daniels said. "He and I have had several extensive conversations in advance of the formal interview process he will have with other members of the organization next week."

Cora is an intriguing candidate because of the impressive knowledge and leadership skills he demonstrated as a player. He is currently manager and general manager of Caguas Criollos in the Puerto Rico Winter League and doesn't have the usual resume of a managerial candidate. A former infielder who spent 14 years in the Major Leagues, Cora was identified as a player who could one day lead a Major League team. He was with the Rangers briefly in 2010.

Lovullo has long been considered a top managerial candidate. He has previously interviewed with the Dodgers and Cubs. He has spent the past four seasons as John Farrell's bench coach in Toronto and Boston. Lovullo has a strong Minor League record in nine years as a manager that includes four post-season appearances and two league championships.

McEwing has spent the past three seasons as the White Sox third-base coach. Prior to that he managed three seasons in the White Sox organization with a .531 winning percentage. He also managed in the Arizona Fall League.

Banister has been in the Pirates organization for 29 seasons and is currently their bench coach. Highly recommended by Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, he has managed in the Minor Leagues, winter ball and the Arizona Fall League. He is also from Texas, having graduated from LaMarque High and attended both Baytown College and the University of Houston. He has an incredible medical history that includes bone cancer, osteomyelitis and a crushed vertebra from a home-plate collision in 1980 that left him temporarily paralyzed from the neck down.

Cash is the least experienced of the candidates. He has spent two seasons as the Indians bullpen coach after one year as an advanced scout for the Blue Jays. But he logged some time at the end of his career in the Rangers farm system and impressed people with his baseball savvy. He may not be ready to manage at the big league level right now but he is considered to have a bright future in the game.