Tracking the Managerial and Executive Openings around MLB

We already have several managerial job openings. Here is a quick and easy guide to what is going on in those searches.

At the end of a season, many teams have to make a tough decision: whether or not they should fire any members of their coaching or front office staff. This article will provide the latest updates regarding team’s searches for a new manager or general manager.

In addition, you can check out the Manager and General Manager spreadsheets for the statuses off the most-likely candidates.

Mets narrow search for new GM down to three candidates | October 22
Chaim Bloom, Doug Melvin, and Brody Van Wagenen are the three remaining candidates in the running for the vacant general manager position with the New York Mets, per MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo.

Angels hire Brad Ausmus | October 21
The Los Angeles Angels have hired Brad Ausmus, who served as a special assistant to the general manager with the Angels for the 2018 season. Prior to that, he spent four years in Detroit as the manager of the Tigers. The length of Ausmus’s new contract is unclear, but it is likely similar to the deal the Cincinnati Reds gave to David Bell.

Reds announce hiring of David Bell | October 21
The speculation ends, and the official announcement is here. The Cincinnati Reds have announced the hiring of David Bell, who served as the Giants’ vice president of player development for the 2018 season. Bell’s contract lasts three years (through 2021) and includes a club option for the 2022 season.

Joe Girardi withdraws name from Rangers managerial search | October 21
MLB Network analyst Joe Girardi withdrew his name from the Reds’ managerial search on Friday, and now he is backing out of the Rangers’ search, too.

David Bell is most likely to become Reds manager | October 20
San Francisco Giants vice president of player development David Bell is the most likely candidate to become the next manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Bell was recently dubbed as the front-runner for the job, and with the Reds hoping to announce their new manager by Monday, it seems like they will decide Bell is their best option. Among the three people who advanced to the second round of the search were Bell, Brad Ausmus, and Joe Girardi. (Yesterday, Girardi announced he was withdrawing from the search.)

Mets continue to search for new general manager | October 20
Chaim Bloom, Doug Melvin, Kim Ng, De Jon Watson (Washington Nationals, special assistant), Gary LaRocque (St. Louis Cardinals, director of player development), Omar Minaya (New York Mets, special assistant) and Dave Littlefield (Detroit Tigers, vice president of player development) have all interviewed for the vacant general manager position with the New York Mets. Player agents Casey Close and Brody Van Wagenen also interviewed. Littlefield, Watson, Close, and LaRocque are no longer under consideration, while Minaya is a lonsghot. Ng and Bloom remain under consideration for the job, but Melvin and Van Wagenen appear to be the front-runners.

Twins rule out two candidates, have five remaining | October 20
The Minnesota Twins will not fill their vacant managerial position with Joe Espada or Hensley Meulens. Five candidates remain in consideration: Rocco Baldelli, Brandon Hyde, James Rowson, and David Ross.

Joe Girardi withdraws himself from Reds’ managerial search | October 19
After he advanced to round two of the Cincinnati Reds managerial search, Joe Girardi has withdrawn himself from the search. The other two candidates who advanced to the second round of the search are David Bell and Brad Ausmus, with Bell the apparent front-runner to win the job.

Blue Jays interviewed Ed Sprague | October 19
The Toronto Blue Jays recently interviewed Ed Sprague, who is currently the Oakland Athletics coordinator of instruction. It’s unclear if Sprague advanced to the second round of Toronto’s managerial search, but it’s worth noting that, of the five that advanced, only four names have been released. David Bell (San Francisco Giants, VP of Player Development), Joe Espada (Houston Astros, bench coach), Rocco Baldelli (Tampa Bay Rays, field coordinator), and Brandon Hyde (Chicago Cubs, bench coach) are all believed to be on their way to the second round, which leaves one more un-named person. Could it be Sprague? Only time will tell.

Reds officially narrow search down to three candidates | October 18
The Cincinnati Reds announced today that their search for a new manager is down to three candidates. Two of them are former MLB managers, Brad Ausmus and Joe Girardi, while the other is currently a member of a front office staff, David Bell. Ausmus managed the Detroit Tigers from 2014-17, before serving as a special assistant for the Angels in 2018. Ausmus is also being considered for other jobs, such as the vacant managerial position with the Angels. Girardi is one-year removed from his managerial stint with the Yankees, from 2008-17, and is a current MLB Network analyst. Bell has served as a minor-league manager, but his highest managerial roles were as a third base coach with the Chicago Cubs and bench coach with the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently the vice president of player development with the San Francisco Giants.

Angels give long written test to managerial candidates | October 18
MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported that the Los Angeles Angels are giving a two-hour written test to their managerial candidates. A source told Morosi that tests and quizzes have actually played a role in hiring staff members in baseball for over a decade. In fact, Terry Francona took a quiz that included different decisions and choices when he was a candidate for the opening as manager of the Boston Red Sox, which was a job he ended up winning. The story from Morosi is very well-written, and has lots of interesting information; you can check it out here.

Two clear front-runners in Reds managerial search | October 17
John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that there are two apparent front-runners in the search for the newest manager of the Cincinnati Reds: Rocco Baldelli, who is the field coordinator of the Tampa Bay Rays, and David Bell, who is the farm director of the San Francisco Giants.

Angels interview Ausmus, Chavez | October 17
The Los Angeles Angels have interviewed Triple-A manager Eric Chavez and special assistant Brad Ausmus for their managerial opening. Chavez, who has never coached at the MLB level, became the manager of the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees in August. Ausmus, on the other hand, does have experience as a manager from when he was with the Detroit Tigers from 2014-17.

Orioles job search remains quiet | October 17
The Baltimore Orioles have been quiet this offseason when it comes to finding a new manager and general manager. Billy Ripken and Orioles TV analyst Mike Bordick are expected to be candidates for the managerial position. Meanwhile, Amiel Sawdaye (Arizona Diamondbacks, assistant general manager) and Dan Kantrovitz (Oakland Athletics, assistant general manager) are both likely candidates for the general manager vacancy. The Orioles have yet to interview anyone for either position.

Blue Jays managerial search enters Round Two | October 16
The Blue Jays are the second team to enter the second round of their managerial search. David Bell (San Francisco Giants, VP of Player Development), Joe Espada (Houston Astros, bench coach), Rocco Baldelli (Tampa Bay Rays, field coordinator), and Brandon Hyde (Chicago Cubs, bench coach) have supposedly advanced to the second round of interviews, a source tells Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. A fifth candidate has also reportedly advanced to Round Two of interviews.

Minnesota Twins interview sixth person | October 16
The Twins have interviewed their sixth person: like many teams, they have checked in on Joe Espada. They have also interviewed Brandon Hyde, Rocco Baldelli, Hensley Meulens (San Francisco Giants, bench coach), Derek Shelton (Minnesota Twins, bench coach), and James Rowson (Minnesota Twins, hitting coach). They are also expected to meet with retired catcher David Ross, who is currently working for ESPN.

San Francisco Giants interviewed Jason McLeod, Amiel Sawdaye | October 16
It was reported today by Bruce Levine of 670 TheScore that Chicago Cubs senior vice president of player development Jason McLeod interviewed for the Giants’ general manager opening. Although he seems like a strong candidate, he may choose to remain with the Cubs, where he is making $1M per season. Arizona Diamondbacks assistant general manager Amiel Sawdaye is also a strong candidate for the role, and he would be a great fit for the general manager role in San Francisco. Among the players Sawdaye has drafted are Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Sam Travis from his time with the Boston Red Sox.

Cincinnati enters Round Two of managerial search | October 15
The Reds are entering the second round of their search for a manager, and have decided on ten candidates to advance to the next round of consideration. Among those that are expected to remain under consideration are Baldelli, Joe Girardi, and Reds’ 2018 interim manager Jim Riggleman.

Rangers conduct at least seven interviews | October 15
By now, the Texas Rangers have conducted at least seven known interviews for their managerial vacancy. Among those who have interviewed are Don Wakamatsu (Texas Rangers, interim manager), Jayce Tingler (Texas Rangers, assistant general manager), Brandon Hyde, Joe Espada, Joe Girardi, David Bell and Rocco Baldelli.

Angels working on finding new manager | October 14
The Los Angeles Angels are starting the process of finding a new manager. So far, they have interviewed Joe Espada and Brandon Hyde. Brad Ausmus and Eric Chavez are both currently in the Angels organization and may also receive interviews.

Search for the new Mets GM: Chernoff won’t interview | October 14
Chaim Bloom (Tampa Bay Rays, senior vice president of baseball operations), Kim Ng (MLB executive), and Doug Melvin (Milwaukee Brewers, special adviser) have all received interviews with the Mets, and are considered to be the leading candidates. Meanwhile, Cleveland Indians GM Mike Chernoff declined an interview and will stay with Cleveland.

Check back often for the latest updates.