Sources: Phillies 3B coach Wathan on 2 teams' radar for manager opening

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SAN DIEGO -- As the Phillies compete in the postseason, a key member of their coaching staff is drawing interest from a couple of teams with manager openings.

According to multiple sources, third base coach Dusty Wathan interviewed with the Miami Marlins on Sunday. He will interview with the Kansas City Royals on Thursday.

Don Mattingly managed the Marlins the last seven seasons. He and the club decided to part ways when his contract ran out at the end of the season. The Royals let Mike Matheny go at the end of the season as part of a bigger organizational overhaul.

Wathan, 49, is in his fifth season as Phillies’ third-base coach. Prior to that, he managed for 10 seasons in the Phillies’ minor-league system and was twice named Eastern League manager of the year.

Wathan’s connection to the Royals is particularly interesting. He grew up around that club when his dad, John, was the team’s catcher from 1976 to 1985 and its manager from 1987 to 1991.

Dusty Wathan, also a catcher, played 14 seasons in the minors and briefly in the majors with the Royals. He finished his playing career in the Phillies' minor-league system before becoming a minor-league manager and joining the big-league coaching staff in 2018 under Gabe Kapler. Wathan was a finalist for the job before it went to Kapler. 

Wathan previously interviewed with the Texas Rangers for their managerial opening in October 2018.

Back in June, Phillies manager Rob Thomson publicly endorsed Wathan as a candidate for any managerial opening.

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