Rangers general manager Jon Daniels had eight candidates lined up for the team's manager position when he concluded the interview process. It's now down to three and a decision is expected to be made very soon.
Daniels announced the finalists on Tuesday. They are Rangers interim manager Tim Bogar, Pittsburgh Pirates bench coach Jeff Banister and Cleveland Indians bullpen coach Kevin Cash. Others who were considered for the job include Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux, Rangers Triple-A manager Steve Buechele, Boston Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo, White Sox third base coach Joe McEwing, and former big leaguer and Puerto Rican GM Alex Cora.
So let's introduce the three finalists:
Tim Bogar, Rangers interim manager/bench coach
Bogar was hired as Rangers' bench coach last offseason to join manager Ron Washington's staff. He's a former major league player and has extensive coaching experience. He was with the Boston Red Sox from 2008 until 2012, where he served as a first-base, third-base coach and bench coach under Terry Francona and Bobby Valentine. Prior to coming into the MLB, he managed the Houston Astros' rookie team (Greenville Astros) in 2004 and Class-A affiliate (Lexington Legends) in 2005. He then moved on to manage the Cleveland Indians' Double-A affiliate Akron Aeros in 2006 and 2007. After he left the Red Sox in 2012 and prior to joining the Rangers in 2013, he also managed the Los Angeles Angels' Double-A affiliate (Arkansas Travelers). He was named minor league manager of the year three times. He finished the 2014 season as interim manager of the Rangers, going 14-8 in the team's final 22 games.
Jeff Banister, Pittsburgh Pirates bench coach
Unlike Bogar, Banister has remained with one organization for his entire coaching career. For the past 29 years he's been with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a minor league player and coach. In 1994, at the age of 29, he managed the Welland Pirates, which was Pittsburgh's Class A- team. He then took over the same position for the Augusta Green Jackets (Class-A) in 1995, followed by the Lynchburg Hillcats (Class A+) from 1996-1997, then the Carolina Mudcats (Double-A) from 1997-1998 before being named the Major League Field Coordinator of the Pirates. He worked that post from 1999-2002 and then served as the team's Minor League Field Coordinator from 2003-2010. He's been the Pirates' bench coach since 2010, during which the team has made two postseason appearances after a 20-year playoff drought.
Kevin Cash, Cleveland Indians bullpen coach
Cash is the youngest of the three candidates. The 36-year-old concluded his MLB career after the 2011 season, playing for 12 years as a catcher for the Blue Jays, Rays, Red Sox, Yankees and Astros (and for the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate). He utilized his connections following his retirement, working as an advanced scout for the Blue Jays in 2012 before joining Terry Francona (who he played under in Boston) in Cleveland as the Indians bullpen coach.
Rangers' GM Daniels hopes to have the position filled before the World Series begins on October 21, so one of these men should be named to the post within the next week.
