Red Sox News: Search for next manager narrows following interviews

The Boston Red Sox have made progress in their search for a new manager with reports of interviews for both internal and external candidates.

The search to find the next Boston Red Sox manager has been moving along at a glacial pace but reports of the team interviewing candidates shows progress has been made.

According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, Oakland A’s coach Mark Kotsay interviewed for Boston’s managerial opening but is no longer in the running for the job. Kotsay spent parts of the 2008 and 2009 seasons with the Red Sox before his playing career ended in 2013.

He now serves as Oakland’s quality control coach and is known for excellent communication and observation skills. Those traits are similar to what initially drew the Red Sox toward Alex Cora, who was fired earlier this month for his role in observing the signs from opposing teams and communicating to his players how to take advantage.

ESPN’s Enrique Rojas reports that Arizona Diamondbacks bench coach Luis Urueta had a telephone interview with the Red Sox on Friday. Urueta is also the manager of the Licey Tigers in the Dominican Republic winter league.

Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo both came from the Red Sox organization so it’s no surprise that one of their coaches is being considered.

The strongest candidates appear to be a pair of internal options. Bench coach Ron Roenicke and third base coach Carlos Febles have both formerly interviewed for the vacant managerial position, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo.

Roenicke brings experience to the table, having served as the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers from 2011 to 2015. He was a trusted adviser to Cora who would provide the most seamless transition.

Febles has been in the Red Sox organization since 2007 and served as manager of the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs in 2017. Being a bilingual coach is an asset Febles shares with Cora and would similarly help him connect with the Spanish-speaking players on the roster.

The Red Sox seem to be leaning toward an internal hire, perhaps as a short-term solution for this season, while merely doing their due diligence by interviewing external options.

However, they might be delaying a decision until after MLB concludes their investigation into the sign-stealing accusations against them. Cora was fired for his connection to the scandal in Houston but further punishment could be in store for the Red Sox if MLB determines any of their remaining coaches were involved. If that punishment extends to Roenicke or Febles, it could force the Red Sox to pivot in another direction. They’ll need some candidates from outside the organization to be at least on their radar, just in case.

The Red Sox are running out of time to make a decision with pitchers and catchers reporting for spring training in Fort Myers next week. Opening camp with a manager isn’t necessarily a requirement but this club needs some stability in the wake of a rocky offseason.

The Astros and Mets both fired managers in the fallout of Houston’s sign-stealing scandal but both teams have already found replacements. The Red Sox are the last team looking to hire a manager with spring training right around the corner. These reports of interviews being conducted is a promising sign that suggests a decision could come soon.