It's getting more and more clear the San Diego Padres could be in the market for a new skipper in 2016. Various rumors have indicated manager Pat Murphy will not be with the team next year and a few names have already been mentioned as possible successors.
Rumors first suggested Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus could be a candidate because a report earlier in the year said the team planned to fire him after the season. However, Tigers GM Al Avila said over the weekend Ausmus would return in 2016.
But how about another former MLB player?
Jason Varitek, who played catcher for the Boston Red Sox for 15 seasons, currently works for his former team as a special assistant to the general manager, but there's been speculation he could end up in the dugout next year.
"His name is out there as a managerial candidate. Varitek is respected around the majors, dating to his catching days and how he prepared pitchers for games," writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. "There are always rumors about San Diego given that former Red Sox CEO Mike Dee is running that team. But Varitek would have to be ready to commit to something full time, and right now his family comes first.
Cafardo also mentioned this possibility back in August.
"There's the feeling that Varitek could be a managerial candidate for the Padres should they bypass interim skipper Pat Murphy for the job. Varitek is a favorite of former Red Sox chief operating officer Mike Dee, who is now president of the Padres. Varitek has not wanted a full-time role in baseball, preferring to spend more time with his family."
Murphy is 41-49 since taking over for Bud Black in June, so it's unknown if his job is safe heading into 2016. San Diego already made a questionable decision in firing Black after just 65 games with a completely new team in a competitive NL West division. At the time they were only five games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers.
The team refused to let Murphy interview for a coaching job with the Milwaukee Brewers earlier in the season because rumors suggested they viewed him as a potential successor to Black.
All this volatility in the Padres' organization suggests Murphy could be out once the season ends, so keep an eye on Varitek possibly heading to the West Coast.
