TODAY: Espada’s interview has taken place, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports (Twitter link).
DECEMBER 6: In addition to the recently-documented Matt Quatraro, The Athletic’s Britt Ghiroli verified five other managerial candidates for the vacant Oakland skipper position. Included in the current group of candidates are a number of names already within the Oakland organization— third base coach Mark Kotsay, bullpen coach Marcus Jensen, and hitting coach Darren Bush. Rounding out the group are Boston bench coach Will Venable and Houston bench coach Joe Espada. Half of the group (Quatraro, Kotsay, and Venable) has already interviewed, with the remaining half expected to interview soon.
After 11 seasons of .528 ball under Bob Melvin, it makes sense for Oakland brass to look to Melvin’s cohorts for a successor. Kotsay is likely the most familiar name among the internal candidates, as he is a 17-year veteran and played for seven different teams during his lengthy career. Dating back to 2014 Kotsay has assumed a number of Major League roles, accumulating the titles of hitting coach, bench coach, quality control coach, and third base coach. Kotsay is light on managerial experience but is no stranger to the managerial rumor mill, being linked to recent searches conducted by Houston, Boston, and Detroit.
A former catcher, Jensen was no stranger to the big leagues either, appearing in 7 Major League seasons for as many teams. Jensen has been in the Oakland organization since 2007, serving as a hitting coach and manager for several of Oakland’s minor league affiliates. He’s served as an A’s coach at the game’s highest level since 2014.
Bush is a baseball veteran as well, though has seen a notable chunk of his playing and coaching days come on the indie ball circuit. Since joining Oakland’s minor league ranks as a coach in 2004, Bush has accrued a good deal of managerial experience at the lower levels. His consistent success as a minor league manager led to a Major League promotion, where Bush has served as a bullpen or hitting coach since 2013.
Like Kotsay, Espada has been a fixture in managerial candidate discussions for years. The Houston coach and former second-rounder has seen his fair share of success over the past four years, recently piquing the interest of the Giants, Rangers, and Cubs.
Venable is a veteran of 9 Major League seasons, including an impressive 20-20 campaign in 2013 for the Padres. Since his retirement, Venable has worked in advisory and coaching positions for the Chicago Cubs. Venable hopped over to the Red Sox organization in 2020 and served as the bench coach for this year’s resurgent Boston club. Like others on this list, Venable has turned heads as a potential manager for years, drawing interviews for recent Houston and San Francisco vacancies.
It’s going to be Mark Kotsay. You can take that to the bank. I’m just surprised the A’s haven’t announced it yet.
Kotsay isn’t manager material.
Terry Steinbach!!! Get it done, Billy.
@Zach- You say that about Kotsay because…?
Based on his numerous interviews and not being hired, based on his track record of positions held and not showing marked improvement, his performance as 3B coach this season getting 5 runners thrown out in a 3 game series should have been enough to get him fired.
Just an fyi, 3B coach is more about passing along the signals from the dugout that sending/stopping runners at 3rd
And Christmas is not just about presents and Halloween is not about candy.
Sorry, you cannot successfully use the words “A’s” and “bank” in the same sentence.
But you just did it too!
They didn’t
Lol, Manny. So true. My mistake.
Phillip Wellman is the clear choice.
I believe in Stephen Vogt
He has my Vogt
And Father Christmas.
I love Vogt & he is well liked by the players. Being a catcher helps, too
Vogt would be better in the broadcast booth…then, again, anyone is better than Dallas Braden.
Carney Lansford
Lansford is an inept fool.
Was a great player. Loved his short stint in Boston.
agreed, but in Cali
dewey – Are you aware at one time the Red Sox had three current reigning batting champions on their 25-man roster, and all of them were 3B.
It’s one of my favorite bits of Sox trivia.
em65or – Lansford is ineligible because one of his legs is shorter than the other. LOL
Bring back Billy Martin ⚾️
It’s going to be whoever agrees to the lowest salary.
Billy Martin
Bubba Smith!
Art Howe 2.0.
Sal Bando
@Buzz Saw- he’s already managing the Angels.
Huh?
I think Terrible Collins I mean Terry Collins will get it.
isnt he like 115 years old?
I’m afraid it will be back to the future, a Bob Geren/Ken Macha clone.
I’ll take the job for California minimum wage (that should get A’s managements attention)
Not bad… what’s that about $100per hour these days?!
How would you feel about an unpaid internship for just like 10-15 seasons?
I’m surprised Eric Chavez isn’t mentioned!!
@tboneo816- When you think of Oakland, you always think of Eric Chavez. Yes, he’s probably the perfect guy for the job. I know the Yankees wanted to hire him long ago to coach, they still do.
Maybe not necessarily this opening, but Espada has to get one of these jobs eventually. I feel like he’s interviewed in so many places.
Hopefully, take over when Dusty retires
I hope that this is true. I feel like they extended Baker for 1 more year because we went to the WS under him. I really hope that this is just another year of grooming under Baker for Espada to take over next year. I feel like Crane had to go with someone outside the club that had a steady hand and good reputation after what happened. I think Espada wants the Astros job over all the others and MIGHT be willing to wait 1 more year to get it. He is talked up by all the players and also focused on the analytics of the game as well. It’s not a matter of if, it’s just a matter of when and where he manages.
Maybe he doesn’t do well in the interview process.
Not even considering Ron Washington is a sign they aren’t even trying anymore.
You think Washington would even want it?
Any word on any teams, A’s, Mets, others with openings, interviewing Shildt?
one wonders if he’s just taking a year off at this point.
Bring back Ricky Henderson instead of Piscotty
Steve Finley: “You have tenure, sit wherever you want.”
Rickey: “Ten year? Rickey’s been playing at least 16!”
The POS owner makes it impossible for the two most qualified people, Shildt and Washington, to even be considered. What a disgrace to sports John Fisher is
When the A’s move to Las Vegas, the Owner will have more money to spend and he will be a great Owner.
This just in. Anyone who ever played in Oakland is now under consideration for the Mgr job
Not Dave Kingman, that’s for sure
Cosmo, true, but Dave Kingman Manager would be something we all should want…unless you’re a journalist.
Heh
Anyone who knows Kotsay’s relationship with Beane would know he’s the new manager
Is he the one they call “Lamborghini” ESPADA ??
This is an Important search to watch because whomever they select will soon be regarded as a must-have candidate to try and steal from the A’s in the future after he wins multiple Manager of the Year awards.
this
The A’s were relieved when Kotsay did not get the Tigers manager job he interviewed for in 2020. Bench Coach, Special Front Office Assistant, 3B Coach, seems to be praised no matter the role. Kotsay = A’s Manager in 2022. But why did they have to cut the Walloper on March 28th? No internet back then, no cell phones, much tougher to find work especially right at the end of spring training. The guy might be in the hall of fame right now!
Espada has earned the opportunity.
Espada has earned the opportunity.
Espada gets the job
Not only that, but Espada has earned the opportunity.
Bobby Valentine, in the unlikely event he doesn’t get the Mets job.
bob – Not a chance. No team will hire him as manager after the 2012 debacle, plus he’s perfectly happy as AD at Sacred Heart and owner of his restaurants.
I would like to go with Espada , but he would have to be into the bigger picture of the strip down . No Olson , Chapman , Manaea , Bassitt , or Montas . Also the long haul of the move to Las Vegas into temporary stadium onwards to new Billions Stadium . Viva Las Vegas .
Would you A’s fans want Washington as your manager?
Venable is one smart dude. Big time front office material.