OAKLAND -- A's third-base coach and defense-mentoring extraordinaire Ron Washington will interview this week for Atlanta's managerial opening, club officials confirmed Monday.
Washington, of course, has enjoyed great success in this role in the past, having led the Rangers to the only two World Series appearances in club history (2010, '11), and his work with the A's since rejoining their staff last year has drawn constant praise, notably his progress with shortstop Marcus Semien.
"I'd hate to lose him. I hope he gets it," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "That's how highly I think of Ron Washington."
"It would be great for Wash," vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane added. "He's already had one successful stint as a manager, so we would be very excited if he got the job. Nobody would be happier than we are. It would be a big loss to us, but it would be for a good reason."
The Braves also have plans to interview former Padres manager Bud Black, while keeping current interim manager Brian Snitker under consideration for the job.
The Rockies and D-backs are also already seeking new managerial hires, following Sunday's conclusion of the regular season. Arizona manager Chip Hale, who served as Melvin's bench coach in Oakland from 2012-14, was let go Monday afternoon.
"Given Wash's reputation," Beane said, "which is a great reputation not just as a great baseball man and a great coach, I would suspect that any opening, Ron would be very much a candidate, because he should be."
Washington, 64, has long expressed his interest in rejoining the managerial circle after resigning as Rangers manager late in the 2014 season for personal reasons.
Said Melvin: "All I knew was the guy across the field I was competing against when he was managing in Texas, and I don't want to say I didn't like him -- based on the fact they were so good, I couldn't help but like him, but, man, I've gotten really close to him and I've seen what he's all about, and he is committed to baseball.
"He would be doing the same thing if he was managing in A-ball, if he was managing in the big leagues, as he would if he was the third-base coach for the Oakland A's, and I really admire him for that."