Wallach, Renteria round out finalists for manager
List also includes Cora, Hale and McClendon as Seattle narrows field
SEATTLE -- Padres bench coach Rick Renteria and Dodgers third-base coach Tim Wallach emerged Monday as the fourth and fifth finalists for the Mariners' managerial job, according to baseball sources. General manager Jack Zduriencik is currently conducting a second series of interviews with the five leading candidates to replace Eric Wedge.
The final list also includes former Mariners second baseman Joey Cora, A's bench coach Chip Hale and Tigers hitting coach and former Pirates skipper Lloyd McClendon.
Renteria is also one of the top candidates in the Cubs' search, which is the only other remaining vacancy. But Renteria is in a unique position as he recently underwent hip surgery and is unable to fly, so he won't be coming to Seattle like the other four finalists.
Zduriencik interviewed Renteria at his home in California during the first round of interviews when he spoke with about a dozen preliminary candidates. It's not certain whether the Mariners' GM will return to California for a follow-up.
Zduriencik began the second round of interviews over the weekend, and appears to be closing in on a decision this week. The Mariners and Cubs are the two teams still in the hiring process after the Tigers on Sunday selected Brad Ausmus, a former catcher who had been working as a special assistant with the Padres the past three years.
The Reds had previously promoted pitching coach Bryan Price, while the Nationals chose D-backs third-base coach Matt Williams. Ausmus, Price and Williams are all first-time Major League managers. The Mariners could be headed down a similar path, as McClendon is the only finalist with previous big league managerial experience.
Renteria, 51, has been on the Padres' staff for six years, including the past three as bench coach. He also managed Mexico in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
Renteria has worked in the Padres' organization since 2003 and spent four seasons managing the club's Class A team at Lake Elsinore and another year leading Triple-A Portland before moving up to San Diego in 2007 as first-base coach. He also managed four seasons in the Marlins' organization at the Class A and Double-A levels and was the Midwest League Manager of the Year in 1999.
Renteria played parts of five seasons in the Majors as a utility infielder between 1986-94, including 43 games with the Mariners in 1987-88.
Wallach, 56, was a five-time All-Star and a three-time Gold Glove Award winner as a third baseman for the Montreal Expos during a 17-year playing career from 1980-96 that concluded with stints with the Dodgers and Angels.
Wallach, who also was a finalist for the Tigers' job, has been the Dodgers' third-base coach the past three seasons after managing the club's Triple-A team in Albuquerque to a 152-135 record in 2009-10. He was the Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year in '09, when he also was named Baseball America's "Best Manager Prospect."
Wallach also served as the Dodgers' hitting coach from 2004-05, and he previously coached and managed at the Class A level with two Dodgers affiliates, as well as spending a year coaching at his alma mater, Cal State Fullerton, in 2000.
Wallach was a career .257 hitter in the Major Leagues and racked up 2,085 hits, 260 home runs and 1,125 RBIs. He led the Majors in doubles in 1987 and '89, with 42, and he won two Silver Slugger Awards before retiring in 1996.
The names of the other three finalists all came out over the weekend and have now talked with Zduriencik in Seattle.
Hale, 48, spent six seasons as a manager in the D-backs' Minor League organization, and he earned Pioneer League and Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year Awards before joining Bob Melvin's staff as the third-base coach and infield coach in Arizona from 2007-09. He then worked as the Mets' third-base coach in 2010-11 before rejoining Melvin's staff in Oakland the past two years as his bench coach.
Cora, 48, played for the Mariners from 1995-98 during an 11-year Major League career. He was on Ozzie Guillen's staff with the White Sox and Marlins from 2004-12, the last eight years as bench coach.
McClendon, 54, had a 336-446 record from 2001-05 when Pittsburgh was in the middle of a 20-year run of losing seasons, then was immediately hired as a hitting coach by Jim Leyland in Detroit. He was regarded as a big part of the Tigers' success as they reached the American League Championship Series four times and the World Series twice during his eight years.