Two former Mariners, an ex-manager and ex-player, are among three finalists to become manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, replacing Joe Maddon, who quit earlier this month to assume the same job with the Chicago Cubs. Don Wakamatsu directed the Mariners in 2009-10 and Raul Ibanez had three stints in Seattle, 1996-2000, 2004-08 and 2013. The third candidate to manage the Rays is Kevin Cash.
The Rays Friday lopped seven managerial candidates, including Dave Martinez, the Rays’ bench coach for the past seven seasons. Also cut were Barry Larkin, Doug Glanville, Manny Acta, Craig Counsell, Charlie Montoyo and Ron Wotus. Tampa Bay said that interviews with the finalists are scheduled for the week of Dec. 1.
Wakamatsu, 51, became the first Asian-American manager in major league history and led Seattle to a 127-147 record in 2009-10. The Mariners fired Wakamatu Aug. 8, 2010 with the club at 42-70 en route to a 101-loss season.
Wakamatsu played in the minor leagues from 1985 to 1996, reaching the major leagues for 18 games with the Chicago White Sox in 1991.
Wakamatsu served as bench coach at Texas (2003 to 2006), the Rangers’ third-base coach in 2007 and bench coach at Oakland (2008). After he was fired by the Mariners, Wakamatsu worked as a bench coach in Toronto (2011-12) and Kansas City (2014).
Should Wakamatsu be hired, he would become the first former Mariner manager to lead another big league club since Bob Melvin, who managed the Mariners in 2003-04 and later became skipper of the Arizona Diamondbacks (2005-09). Melvin has been the manager of the Oakland Athletics since 2011.
Ibanez, 42, spent 19 seasons in the major leagues with Seattle, Kansas City, Philadelphia, the Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels and has 305 homers and 2,034 hits. He helped the Royals win this year’s AL pennant. For the 2013 Mariners, Ibanez hit 29 home runs, tying legendary Ted Williams for the most homers in a season by a player 40 or older.
Ibanez played in 1,101 games for the Mariners (eighth all-time), scored 540 runs (8th), had 1,801 hits (6th), 216 doubles (5th), 156 home runs (6th) and drove in 612 runs (6th). He holds the club’s single-game record for most hits in a game, six at Anaheim Sept. 22, 2004.
Should the Rays hire Ibanez, he would become the fifth former Mariners player to manage a big league team.
Jerry Narron caught for the Mariners in 1980-81 and 1987, and managed the Texas Rangers (2001-02) and Cincinnati Reds (2005-07). Bud Black pitched for the Mariners in 1981 and has managed the San Diego Padres since 2007. Jim Essian was a catcher for Seattle in 1982 and managed the 1991 Chicago Cubs, and Bill Plummer caught for Seattle in 1982 and managed the Mariners in 1992.
The 36-year-old Cash played for Tampa Northside in the 1989 Little League World Series and was a big league catcher for eight seasons with Toronto, Tampa Bay, Boston, the New York Yankees and Houston from 2002-10. He was a major league advance scout for Toronto in 2012 and Cleveland’s bullpen coach in 2013-14.
3 Comments
A bit surprised that Martinez didn’t get it but the Rays might want a clean break from the Maddon era. It’s rare to see a player retire (did Raul officially retire yet?) and immediately become a manager. So I’d think Wak has the inside track. Just because the M’s were en route to a 100 loss season shouldn’t deter the Rays. Bob Melvin lost 99 game in his last season with the M’s before he was fired and he’s done okay since then.
It’s not like the M’s F.O. did Wak any favors while he was here. Melvin, OTOH, inherited Lou’s team, won 93 games in his first year and still couldn’t make the playoffs. The next year he lost 99.
In case you haven’t noticed, the revolving door that’s been the Manager position these past 13 years has been mostly comprised of rookies and retreads.
Um….I’ve noticed.