Red Sox managerial search: Who are the candidates?
It's been exactly one month since the Red Sox announced that Ron Roenicke wouldn't return as manager in 2021. But who will replace him? Here's a closer look at candidates who have either interviewed or are reported to be in the running.
Age: 45
Managerial/coaching experience: Bench coach, Minnesota Twins (2020); Manager, Class-A short-season Yakima (2007); Manager, Class-A Visalia (2007-08)
Other experience: Diamondbacks minor league field coordinator (2010), Diamondbacks farm director (2011-16), Diamondbacks VP of player development (2017-19)
Baseball background: Bell has three generations of baseball experience, as he's the younger brother of Reds skipper David Bell, the son of former MLB manager Buddy Bell, and the grandson of Gus Bell, who played from 1950-1964. A long-time minor-league player, Bell only played 19 games in the majors with the 2000 Reds, but rose through the ranks during 13 years in the Diamondbacks organization.
Status: Has interviewed with the Red Sox, per the Boston Globe's Alex Speier & Peter Abraham.
Age: 40
Managerial/coaching experience: Bench coach, Pittsburgh Pirates (2020); First base coach, Houston Astros (2019)
Other experience: Scout, player development assistant, Detroit Tigers (2017), Major league scout, Detroit Tigers (2017-18)
Baseball background: Kelly played nine major-league seasons with the Pirates, Tigers, and Marlins, predominantly in the outfield and at third base. Seen as a future MLB manager despite a lack of coaching experience, Kelly has also interviewed for the Tigers' opening this offseason.
Status: Has interviewed with the Red Sox, per the Boston Globe and MLB.com.
Age: 40
Managerial/coaching experience: Coach, Staten Island Yankees (2009); Coach, Charleston RiverDogs (2010, 2012); Manager, Gulf Coast Yankees (2011); Manager, Scottsdale Scorpions (2012, 2016); Quality control & infield coach, New York Yankees (2018-19); Bench coach, New York Yankees (2020)
Other experience: Roving defensive instructor, Yankees organization
Baseball background: After a 13-year minor-league career as a player, Mendoza has spent 12 seasons in the Yankees organization, serving in a variety of roles. Like Kelly, Mendoza has also reportedly interviewed for the Tigers' managerial opening.
Status: Has interviewed with the Red Sox, per the New York Post's George King.
Age: 44
Managerial/coaching experience: Hitting coach, Chicago Cubs (2012-13); Hitting coach, Minnesota Twins (2017-19); Bench coach & offensive coordinator, Miami Marlins (2020)
Other experience: Minor league hitting coordinator, New York Yankees (two stints for six seasons)
Baseball background: Selected in the ninth round in 1994, Rowson never reached the majors as a player, but as a coach, he has helped develop some impressive hitters, including Anthony Rizzo, Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge, Miguel Sano and Max Kepler.
Status: Has interviewed with the Red Sox, per the Boston Globe's Alex Speier.
Age: 40
Managerial/coaching experience: First base coach, San Diego Padres (2018-19); Associate manager, San Diego Padres (2020)
Other experience: Assistant to baseball operations and player development, San Diego Padres (2016-17)
Baseball background: Schumaker played for the Cardinals, Dodgers and Reds over an 11-year career from 2005 to 2015 before shifting into player development and coaching. Here's how former Padres manager Andy Green described Schumaker to the San Diego Union-Tribune in 2018: “I always knew [Schumaker] was wired to be impactful. Over the last two years, he was a guy I called on all the time. I’d listen to his takes and realize how great his baseball insight and knowledge was and, honestly, his edge was.”
Status: Has interviewed with the Red Sox, per the Boston Globe's Alex Speier.
Age: 39
Managerial/coaching experience: Coach, South Bend Silver Hawks (2012); Coach, Colombia (2013 WBC); Manager, Arizona League Diamondbacks (2013-14); Coach, Reno Aces (2015); Manager, Colombia (2017 WBC); Coach, Arizona Diamondbacks (2017-19); Bench coach, Arizona Diamondbacks (2020)
Other experience: Short-season field coordinator, Arizona Diamondbacks (2008-12, 2016); Minor league field coordinator, Arizona Diamondbacks (2017); has also coached and managed in the Dominican Winter League
Baseball background: Urueta, who played three years in the Diamondbacks' minor-league system, also interviewed with the Red Sox earlier this year before the team opted to go with Ron Roenicke for the 2020 season.
Status: Has interviewed with the Red Sox, per ESPN's Enrique Rojas.
Age: 37
Managerial/coaching experience: First base coach, Chicago Cubs (2018-19); Third base coach, Chicago Cubs (2020)
Other experience: Special assistant to Theo Epstein, Chicago Cubs (2017-18)
Baseball background: A two-sport star at Princeton, where he starred in both baseball and basketball, Venable played for the Padres, Rangers, and Dodgers over a 9-year MLB career. Though more inexperienced (and younger) than most of the other candidates, Venable is a manager on the rise and has interviewed for managerial openings in each of the last two seasons.
Status: Has interviewed with the Red Sox, per MLB Network's Jon Heyman.
Age: 45
Managerial/coaching experience: Hitting coach, Lowell Spinners (2010); Manager, Gulf Coast Red Sox (2011-12); First base coach, Los Angeles Dodgers (2016-20)
Other experience: Roving outfield and baserunning coordinator, Red Sox farm system (2013-15)
Baseball background: Lombard, who once committed to play football at the University of Georgia, played for the Braves, Tigers, Devil Rays and Nationals, batting .220 in 350 major league at-bats. Lombard has ties to the Red Sox organization, spending five seasons coaching in the minor league system.
Status: Rumored to be in the mix, but hasn't interviewed with the Red Sox with the Dodgers playing in the World Series -- though he did reportedly interview with the Tigers earlier this month.
Age: 45
Managerial/coaching experience: Bench coach, Houston Astros (2016-17); Manager, Boston Red Sox (2018-19)
Other experience: General manager, Puerto Rican national team
Baseball background: After a 14-year playing career for six teams (including the Red Sox from 2005-08), Cora spent several years as a television analyst for ESPN. Following two seasons in Houston, Cora signed a three-year contract with the Red Sox and led Boston to a franchise-record 108 wins and the World Series in 2018, signing an extension through 2021 with a club option for 2022 after the season. But just 14 months later, Cora and the Sox agreed to part ways -- and a couple of months after that, commissioner Rob Manfred suspended Cora for the 2020 season.
Status: In the final days of his one-year suspension from MLB due to his roles in sign-stealing scandals. Cora is seen in some circles as the favorite in Boston, but will Chaim Bloom opt for his own choice or bring back the manager who is still beloved by Boston players and fans?
