Hot-Stove: Rays Announce Managerial Finalists

Earlier today, we noted that the Rays would narrow the field to three candidates. The Rays did just that, whittling their list of managerial candidates down from ten to three this afternoon, settling on Royals bench coach Don Wakamatsu, Indians bullpen coach Kevin Cash and Raul Ibanez to serve as their next skipper.

Wakamatsu managed the Mariners from 2009-10, prior to holding down the bench coach position with the Kansas City Royals. “He’s oft-cited as a candidate to receive another crack at managing a team and has drawn interest from multiple clubs in managerial searches since his dismissal from Seattle,” writes Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors.

Former catcher for the Rays, Cash also spent time with the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees, Astros in his eight-year career as a catcher. He was considered to be a strong candidate in the recent managerial searches for the Rangers and Astros.

Ibanez was a surprise entrant on the Rays’ initial list of 10, considering the fact that he was active on the Royals roster through season’s end. The 19-year veteran is a career .272 BA/.335 OBP/.465 SLG hitter with 305 homers and is known for his positive influence in the clubhouse.

Shockingly absent from the list of finalists is bench coach Dave Martinez, the Rays top internal candidate. In a press release confirming the finalists, President of Baseball Operations Matt Silverman made the following statement:

The decision on Dave Martinez was especially difficult. He’s played a key role in our organization’s evolution, and he’s done all he can to put himself in position to be a manager. In the end, we determined that our clubhouse would best benefit from a new voice that will add to our already strong and cohesive culture.

The in person interviews are set to take place the week of December 1, and because of it there will be no manager in place by Thanksgiving. However, the organization will have time to make a decision prior to the Winter Meetings, which run from December 7-11 in San Diego.

Among the 10 initial candidates, Craig Counsel was the only member to withdraw his name from consideration choosing instead to stick with his current team, the Milwaukee Brewers.

The speculation can now begin on who might be the best fit for the future of the organization, however, suffice it to say, the insight into the qualifications of each candidate is minimal at best.

Noteworthiness:

Quote of the day, courtesy of Marc Topkin: “Martinez, 50, had the support of several key Rays players, who cited the benefit of continuity. He is signed for the 2015 season, but it would be hard to imagine him returning; more likely the Rays would offer him another position in the organization and/or allow him to take a job elsewhere, perhaps joining Maddon with the Cubs. Martinez, who was described by a friend as “very, very disappointed,” did not return messages Friday night.”

The Rays have signed 1B Allan Dykstra and RHP Bryce Stowell to minor-league contracts, per MLB.com transactions. Dykstra most recently played for the Navegantes Del Magallanes in Venezuela last year, and is said to be very impressive, boasting solid defense.