Al

Avila

Detroit is said to be considering a long list of names for the gig, including Braves catching instructor Sal Fasano, Yankees third base coach Phil Nevin, Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza, Yankees hitting coach Marcus Thames, Royals bench coach Pedro Grifol, Pirates bench coach Don Kelly, Dodgers first base coach George Lombard, Cubs third base coach Will Venable, and Athletics quality control coach Mark Kotsay, but Hinch is apparently the leading man, and the Tigers could now move quickly to work out a deal with him after the White Sox named Tony La Russa as their new manager on Thursday. Hinch was said to be in consideration for the job in Chicago, but Nightengale notes that he never actually got an interview.

That interview actually took place back in September, per McCosky. Clark was also considered a candidate for the job in 2018 before Ron Gardenhire ultimately got hired. The 58-year-old former major league outfielder is in the running with a very long list of other names, including Braves coach Sal Fasano, Yankees third base coach Phil Nevin, Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza, Yankees hitting coach Marcus Thames, Royals bench coach Pedro Grifol, Pirates bench coach Don Kelly, Dodgers first base coach George Lombard, Cubs third base coach Will Venable, and Athletics quality control coach Mark Kotsay. There is no apparent frontrunner at this point.

Fasano served as a manager for several minor league clubs before being hired to the Braves’ major league staff in 2017 as a catching instructor. He joins Yankees third base coach Phil Nevin, Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza, Yankees hitting coach Marcus Thames, Royals bench coach Pedro Grifol, Pirates bench coach Don Kelly, Dodgers first base coach George Lombard, Cubs third base coach Will Venable, and Athletics quality control coach Mark Kotsay among the list of known candidates to fill the vacancy in Detroit.

George A. King III of the New York Post reported over the weekend that Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza got an interview while Yankees hitting coach Marcus Thames has also been considered. Nevin has been the Yankees’ third base coach for the past three seasons and boasts extensive managerial experience in the minors (a lot of it with the Tigers), so he has been mentioned as a candidate for a major league job for quite some time. Tigers general manager Al Avila is conducting an extensive process and more clarity should be on the way following the World Series.

It’s not clear whether Kotsay has interviewed yet. He interviewed for the Giants’, Red Sox’ and Astros’ manager jobs last offseason. The Tigers have reportedly interviewed Don Kelly, Pedro Grifol, Marcus Thames and George Lombard so far.

Kelly only has two years of MLB coaching experience (2019 as first base coach with the Astros, 2020 as bench coach with Pittsburgh), so he’s not considered a top candidate. Still, it makes sense he’d be considered due to his long history with the Tigers organization. Kelly played with the Tigers from 2009-2014. Royals bench coach Pedro Grifol, Yankees hitting coach Marcus Thames, and Dodgers first base coach George Lombard have also interviewed with the Tigers, though GM Alex Avila has said that the team plans to consider Alex Cora and A.J. Hinch as well.

Grifol was a finalist for the Giants’ managerial job last winter. The 50-year-old has also known Tigers general manager Al Avila for more than 30 years, per Morosi, which can’t hurt his chances at landing the job. Yankees hitting coach Marcus Thames and Dodgers first base coach George Lombard are others known to have interviewed with the Tigers.

Thames is the second known candidate for the opening, joining Dodgers first base coach George Lombard. He spent most of his playing career with the Tigers and has been coaching with the Yankees in both the minors and majors since 2014. Thames does not have any managerial experience.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported last week that the club was interested. Lombard has been the Dodgers’ first base coach for the past five seasons and has some minor league managerial experience on his resume. He also played a season for the Tigers back in 2002. Tigers general manager Al Avila plans to consider a wide range of candidates and hasn’t ruled out either Alex Cora or A.J. Hinch.

Nothing has been scheduled yet, as Lombard is in the bubble in Arlington for the postseason. In previous years, we would see coaches under consideration for other jobs interview during off-days, but obviously it’s more complicated this year. Lombard has been the Dodgers first base coach for the past five seasons and has some managerial experience in the minors. There’s a Tigers connection here too, as he played one season for the club in 2002.