Giants Sign Bob Melvin as Manager, Considered Other Candidates
The San Francisco Giants recently made a big move by signing veteran skipper Bob Melvin to a three-year deal to fill their managerial vacancy. This comes as they prepare for what could be a busy offseason. If they had not been able to secure Melvin, the Giants were reportedly considering Mariners bullpen coach Stephen Vogt or Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza as potential candidates, according to John Shea of the San Francisco Time.news.
The Giants did interview a few other candidates before deciding on Melvin. Giants coaches Alyssa Nakken, Kai Correa, and Mark Hallberg all received interviews for the managerial position. The team also expressed interest in Red Sox player information coach Jason Varitek, Angels third base coach Bill Haselman, and Rangers special assistant Nick Hundley.
However, one surprising candidate in the mix was Carlos Mendoza, who is currently the bench coach for the New York Yankees. While Mendoza is seen as a possible contender for the Guardians managerial opening, he had not previously been linked to the Giants.
Mendoza has an extensive background in coaching, starting with his transition from being a player in the Yankees farm system to a minor league coaching role in 2009. Over the next nine seasons, he took on different coaching roles at various levels before being promoted to the big league staff in 2018. He spent two years as the infield coach and has been Aaron Boone’s bench coach since 2020.
In other coaching and managerial news, Marlins manager Skip Schumaker is rumored to be a potential target for the Padres. The Padres reportedly have a fondness for Schumaker due to his previous coaching tenure in San Diego. However, it’s unlikely that the Marlins will give permission for him to interview with another club. Schumaker’s contract with the Marlins runs through the 2024 season, with a club option for 2025. Reports suggest that Schumaker may already be looking to move on, as he is reportedly upset with the way the Marlins handled the departure of former GM Kim Ng. Ng hired Schumaker last October, and it seems he planned to work with her for more than one season.
Another notable mention is Pirates bench coach Don Kelly, who is being dubbed a “future manager” by some, including Jon Heyman of the New York Post. However, Kelly is not currently linked to any specific teams for managerial openings. Following the recent passing of his father-in-law Tom Walker, Kelly is opting to remain close to family in Pittsburgh, where he has spent the past four seasons working under manager Derek Shelton.
As the offseason progresses, more coaching and managerial news is sure to emerge around the league, as teams seek to solidify their leadership positions ahead of the 2022 season.