Many of the teams that had managerial openings have announced their new skippers for the 2024 season.
The Chicago Cubs announced Craig Counsell, the New York Mets will be managed by Carlos Mendoza, Stephen Vogt will lead the Cleveland Guardians, and Ron Washington will return to managing by leading the Los Angeles Angels.
The San Francisco Giants brought in former San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin, leaving the Friars without a skipper.
They have interviewed several candidates, but there has been no announcement yet.
One of the candidates they talked to might surprise you, as he had a role managing an MLB team in 2023.
“The Padres formally interviewed Phil Nevin for their managerial opening Wednesday, sources tell me and @Britt_Ghiroli. A.J. Preller said yesterday that an official decision could come by early next week,” Padres insider Dennis Lin tweeted.
The Padres formally interviewed Phil Nevin for their managerial opening Wednesday, sources tell me and @Britt_Ghiroli. A.J. Preller said yesterday that an official decision could come by early next week.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) November 9, 2023
Nevin managed the Angels in 2022 and 2023, as the team missed the postseason on both occasions.
Still, that might be more of a product of the dysfunctional Angels, a team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2014, than of Nevin’s abilities.
He is still respected in the industry, although perhaps not as much as Melvin.
It was evident that things weren’t going to work out under Melvin, though, so it was time to move on.
It would certainly be interesting to see Nevin with a much better roster, like the Padres’.
They finished 82-80 and missed the playoffs, but they have several stars both in the lineup and in the pitching staff.
Can he get the job?
We will all find out in the next few days.
NEXT: Padres Pitcher Decides To Test Free Agency