Latest On Twins’ Managerial Search

As the Twins continue to seek a replacement for longtime skipper Ron Gardenhire, here are the latest news and rumors:

OCTOBER 22:

• Molitor’s one-on-one meeting with GM Terry Ryan went “fine” but did not result in a job offer, per a tweet from Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Internal candidate Gene Glynn is out of the running, according to Jim Mandelaro of the Democrat and Chronicle. It is unclear if he will return to his current post as manager of the Rochester Red Wings.
• Phil Mackey of 1500 ESPN would hire Lovullo, he writes in his latest piece. Lovullo offers substantial experience and outside ideas from a first rate organization. Mackey notes that the Twins like to hire from within, which favors Molitor and Mientkiewicz. It does appear as though Minnesota has narrowed down to these three candidates.
• Speaking of Lovullo, the Red Sox have granted the Twins an extension to continuing speaking with him, tweets Nick Cafardo.

OCTOBER 21:

• Molitor has a one-on-one meeting with GM Terry Ryan today, tweets Wolfson, which could mean a number of things.
• Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe tweets that Lovullo is “very much” still in the mix, and Mackey echoes that sentiment.
• Jon Heyman of CBS Sports writes that Orioles bench coach John Russell, once a rumored candidate, never heard from the Twins.

OCTOBER 20:

• Still in the running for the post, according to Phil Mackey of 1500 ESPN (via Twitter), are Paul Molitor, Doug Mientkiewicz, and Torey Lovullo.
• The Twins have told Alomar that he is no longer under consideration, tweets Wolfson. Hale has also been advised that he will not get the position, according to Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun (h/t Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press).

OCTOBER 17:

• Wolfson tweets that McEwing has been ruled out for the position, meaning that the team could be inching closer to making a decision.

OCTOBER 16:

• Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN reports that the Twins have also interviewed Blue Jays bench coach Demarlo Hale (Twitter link). Hale’s name had been mentioned speculatively previously, but this appears to be the first report of his concrete candidacy, let alone an interview.

OCTOBER 11:

• Minnesota interviewed White Sox third base coach Joe McEwing yesterday for the managerial opening, La Velle A. Neal III of the Star Tribune reports. Lovullo, who is also among the eight known candidates, interviewed today. Meanwhile, Neal notes that Triple-A Rochester skipper Gene Glynn is another internal candidate. Jim Mandelaro of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reported Glynn’s candidacy earlier this month.

OCTOBER 9:

• Indians first base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. will also interview for the position, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets.

OCTOBER 7:

• Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports (via Twitter) that the Twins have received permission to interview Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo.
• MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger spoke with GM Terry Ryan about the search, and while Ryan admitted that it’d be preferable to hire someone with whom the organization is familiar, his preference is simply to get the best candidate, regardless of past affiliation. To this point, the Twins have only interviewed internal candidates Molitor and Mientkiewicz, but interviews with external candidates will happen in the coming weeks.

OCTOBER 6:

• The Twins have asked for and received permission to interview A’s bench coach Chip Hale, Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN reports via Twitter. Hale saw action in parts of six big league seasons with Minnesota.

OCTOBER 5:

• Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters he expects the Twins to interview bench coach John Russell after the playoffs.

OCTOBER 4:

• The Twins have had multiple interviews with Molitor, Neal tweets.

OCTOBER 2:

• The Twins met yesterday with Paul Molitor regarding the position, reports La Velle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune. Molitor, a St. Paul native that ended his Hall-of-Fame playing career in a Twins uniform, served as a coach last year under Gardenhire. Minnesota intends to move quickly to find a new manager, GM Terry Ryan told Neal.
• The club also interviewed Doug Mientkiewicz today for the opening, tweets Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The 40-year-old former first baseman spent seven years as a player with Minnesota. Since retiring, he has become the skipper for the Twins’ High-A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle.
• Mientkiewicz and Paul Molitor are “finalists” for the position, adds Nightengale. It is not clear whether the team is still considering other options.
• Neal lists Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo and White Sox third base coach Joe McEwing as being candidates that the club has considered. Other names recently noted, at least as possibilities, include Twins bench coach Terry Steinbach, Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo, Rays bench coach Dave Martinez, and former big league skipper Ozzie Guillen, as well as Orioles bench coach John Russell.