It is arguably the biggest offseason in club history. And it features perhaps the most important managerial search the Padres have ever had.
With Andy Green out, and Rod Barajas hanging in the balance, A.J. Preller is looking for the next skipper to lead his club. One he hopes will help the club reach its potential beginning in 2020, with the hopes of reaching the postseason for the first time since 2006.
Here's what is being said about the Padres pursuit of a new skipper. Be sure to return to this page for updates as the search continues.
Wednesday October 23rd:
Padres still working on manager search. Tingler/Washington are perceived as favorites but word is SD very recently interviewed Mark Loretta. Perhaps they still hire Tingler/Wash but Loretta, with coaching/front office (plus MLB playing) experience might be good compromise option — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 23, 2019
And then there were three. Just when it looked like it was down to Jayce Tingler and Ron Washington, AJ Preller added Mark Loretta to the list. Loretta just finished his first season as the Cubs' bench coach. Prior to that he was a front office special assistant for San Diego. During his 15-year MLB career, the infielder played for the Padres from 2003-to-2005. He was considered a possibile candidate for the job when the position first came available, so it's no surprise to see him finally in the conversation.
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Friday October 18th:
Preller was with Texas when the Rangers were rolling under Washington. He knows what the man can do. Tingler was field coordinator at the same time there. Not saying it's a lock, but Wash makes so much more sense. They need to win now ... half a billion invested in FA. https://t.co/yMXf4k5FEn — Carl Steward (@stewardsfolly) October 18, 2019
Bay Area sportswriter Carl Steward is reporting that Ron Washington is headed to San Diego. His belief is that the former Rangers skipper will be the Padres next skipper. He had a series of Tweets Friday suggesting that Washington and Jayce Tingler could both be headed to town - with one serving as bench coach (his guess is Tingler would fill that role).
Several clubs have reached out to Bruce Bochy about their managerial vacancy, including the #Padres, who offered him a job, but Bochy says will take the year off before deciding whether he wants to return in 2021. He will be a #SFGiants special assistant during the 2020 season. — Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 18, 2019
So much for that. It didn't seem all that likely that the former Padres manager would make a heroic return to Petco Park. USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that the club reached out to Bochy, but the future Hall of Famer is planning on helping out the Giants next season. He'll then decide on his managerial future in 2021.
Wednesday October 16th:
Jayce Tingler is in San Diego today for a second interview for the Padres’ manager position, sources tell @Ken_Rosenthal and me. Tingler, who is managing Escogido, is on temporary leave from the winter-ball club. — Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) October 16, 2019
He wasn't on anyone's radar before the Padres began their search, but now Jayce Tingler is a real candidate for the job. Tingler overlapped with AJ Preller in Arlington, and has been with the Rangers for 13 season. During that time he's served in a wide variety of capacities - from the front office, to the Texas dugout in 2018, and various minor league positions. He's currently coaching for Escogido, a Winter League team in the Dominican Republic. He speaks Spanish, which is a desirable trait for the Padres managerial job.
Meanwhile MLB.com's Jon Morosi and AJ Cassavell are reporting that Ron Washington is a finalist for the job. Like Tingler, Washington was with the Rangers while Preller worked for Texas. The Braves third-base coach fits the bill as far as experience goes, having spent eight years as the Rangers' manager.
Morosi and Cassavell also reported that Bruce Bochy has supporters within the organization. The former Padres manager retired from the Giants, but has not closed the door on a return to baseball in 2020.
Tuesday October 15th:
Bob Henley, Nats 3B coach, quietly interviewed for Padres managing job. SD, working hard to keep things secret, might be the most unpredictable manager derby of the 8. — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 16, 2019
MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman sums it up pretty well, calling the Padres search "the most unpredictable" of all the teams in the market. While Bob Henley's team is on its way to the World Series, the third-base coach interviewed for San Diego's opening. Henley has spent 25 years within the organization, including 17 as a coach. This is his sixth season on Washington's major league staff.
Saturday October 12th:
It's unknown whether the #Angels drug scandal reported by @TJQuinnESPN will have an impact on Joe Maddon's desire to manage the Angels. He was unaware of the news. The #Phillies still are in play for Maddon, but not the #Padres. — Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 12, 2019
The latest news about the Angels and the death of Tyler Skaggs could jeopardize the club's ability to land Joe Maddon. What's surprising from the report from USA Today's Bob Nightengale is that the Padres aren't in the mix for Maddon. He was expected to be a strong candidate for San Diego. Even if he doesn't end up in Anaheim, it doesn't look like he'll end up elsewhere in Southern California.
Friday October 11th:
The latest to interview for #Padres managerial job is Ron Washington, currently Atlanta's third-base coach, who is in SD today. So far Washington, Brad Ausmus, Rod Barajas & Jayce Tingler, Texas coach, have interviewed. Hearing no on Buck Showalter, Joe Girardi & Mike Scioscia — Scott Miller (@ScottMillerBbl) October 11, 2019
Bleacher Report's Scott Miller passed along the list of candidates the Padres have interviewed. There are no real surprises, given what's been reported to this point in the process. It also sounds like the club is leaving out some experienced names, most notably Buck Showalter - who Manny Machado reportedly asked them to take a look at.
Tuesday October 8th:
Manny Machado, San Diego’s franchise player, letting it be known he would like Padres to at least take a look at Buck Showalter, his former skipper, as they go through their managerial search. — Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 8, 2019
File this one under 'for what it's worth'. Manny Machado wants the Padres to take a look at his former skipper. Machado and Showalter were together during the all-star third baseman's first six-plus seasons. The tandem helped get the Orioles to the playoffs three times. His recommendation doesn't necessarily mean that AJ Preller and company will look into the longtime skipper. But given his stature, and the team's investment in Machado, his input is notable.
Monday October 7th:
Multiple sources expect #Angels to announce Joe Maddon as new manager as soon as a day or two after his interview this week. Says one source: "It's a fait accompli, isn't it?" — Scott Miller (@ScottMillerBbl) October 8, 2019
The Padres might not get a chance to sit down with Joe Maddon after all. Bleacher Report MLB Columnist Scott Miller reported late Monday afternoon that the Angels are expected to announce Maddon as their next skipper in the next couple days. Maddon was scheduled to meet with the team Monday. According to multiple reports, the Angels planned to interview a few other candidates. From the looks of things, they've already got their guy - which comes as no real surprise.
#LAAngels owner Arte Moreno is said to want Joe Maddon back in fold. His interview went “very well” today and Maddon’s 1st choice is LAA. He has home in the OC, and most important, he likes Arte from his time there. At this point, very hard to envision this going another way. — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 8, 2019
Jon Heyman also tweeted Monday, "Padres have done some due diligence on Ron Washington". While it's unclear where Washington is on their wish list, his familiarity with AJ Preller from their days together in Texas seems to be helping his cause. Heyman reiterated the premium the club is putting on experience, but he also said they are considering less experienced candidates like Mark Kotsay and Mark Loretta.
Sunday October 6th:
Joe Maddon will interview with the #Angels early this week and they are his No. 1 choice, sources tell The Athletic. Maddon spent 31 years in Angels’ organization before joining the Rays as manager in 2006. First to report interview with LAA: @Buster_ESPN. — Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 6, 2019
There were multiple reports over the weekend that the Angels will interview the former Cubs manager. MLB Network's Jon Morosi is among those saying the sitdown will take place Monday. Morosi also tweeted Saturday that Maddon received interest from the Padres as well - as expected.
Thursday October 3rd:
Brad Ausmus is expected get interview with Padres. The SD resident has ties to the organization. — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 3, 2019
A few days after getting fired by the Angels, Brad Ausmus will get an interview with the Padres - according to MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman. Ausmus started his big league career in San Diego, as a catcher from 1993-1996. Before his short stint in Anaheim he managed the Tigers for four years, but did not get his contract renewed at the end of the 2017 season.
Wednesday October 2nd:
#Padres expected to hire a manager with @MLB managerial experience, according to multiple people I spoke with this week. One option: Buck Showalter worked with A.J. Preller in Texas and managed Manny Machado (with considerable success) in Baltimore. @MLBNetwork — Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) October 2, 2019
According to MLB Networks Jon Morosi, experience is a key attribute the team is looking for in its next manager. Buck Showalter would fit that mold. He has 20 years of experience, most recently with the Orioles where he saw Manny Machado develop into one of the game's best players. He was fired after the 2018 season. While in Texas from 2003-2006 he spent time working alongside A.J. Preller.
Monday September 30th:
Brad Ausmus' firing by the Los Angeles Angels, as @Buster_ESPN first reported, clears the way for Joe Maddon to return to the Angels, the team for whom he worked for 30 years. While it's not a fait accompli, a number of sources believe Maddon to the Angels is likely to happen. — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 30, 2019
This could be part of a domino effect that impacts the Padres search. Joe Maddon would no doubt be a top candidate for San Diego's opening. He also has deep ties to the Angels, and a home in the L.A. area. The Angels and Padres are considered the most likely landing spots for Maddon.
Thursday September 26th:
ESPN reported that Moises Alou has taken himself out of consideration for the Padres job. Alou has been a special assistant in the organization since 2015. Just as he did four years ago, Alou declined to interview. He cited family obligations, specifically the care of his eight-year-old daughter, as the reason for his decision. MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported that Alou was viewed as a strong candidate for the job.
