MLB rumors: Twins looking at 2 ex-Yankees for manager, but not Joe Girardi

Former Yankees manager Joe Girardi wants to return to the dugout. The Minnesota Twins need a new skipper after firing Hall of Famer Paul Molitor. The Los Angeles Angels (Mike Scioscia), Toronto Blue Jays (John Gibbons), Baltimore Orioles (Buck Showalter), Texas Rangers (Jeff Banister) and Cincinnati Reds (Bryan Price) also need new managers for 2019.

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A pair of former Yankees are in the running for the open manager job with the Minnesota Twins, who fired Hall of Famer Paul Molitor after the season.

But neither one is former Yankees skipper Joe Girardi, per Fancred’s Jon Heyman:

Former Giants hitting coach Hensley Meulens, Astros bench coach Joe Espada and Rays coach Rocco Baldelli are among candidates in play for the vacant Minnesota Twins managerial role.

Twins bench coach Derek Shelton is also expected to be considered, as are other potential candidates. Meulens, currently working in the Giants front office, managed the Netherlands to a surprisingly strong finish in the World Baseball Classic and was well known before that when he earned World Series rings as the Giants’ affable, hard-working hitting coach.

Espada has served as coach in a wide variety of places including with the Yankees and Marlins. The Astros bench job under A.J. Hinch is becoming a springboard as Alex Cora preceded Espada in that job.

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Espada, you may remember, replaced Alex Cora as the Houston Astros bench coach last November. Before that, Espada spent four seasons with the Yankees, the last three as the third base coach. Espada also served as a scout for the Yankees.

Meulens came up through the Yankees organization, making his major league debut in 1989. He batted .221 with 12 home runs over five seasons for the Yankees. 

He was one of six candidates interviewed by the Yankees following the dismissal of Girardi last November.

As for Girardi, he remains very much interested in returning to the dugout. But right now, he doesn’t appear to have many options.

Girardi did interview with the Reds, but Cincinnati is said to be focusing on David Bell.

Aside from the Reds and Twins, the following clubs are looking for new managers:

• Toronto Blue Jays – parted ways with manager John Gibbons.
• Los Angeles Angels – moving on from manager Mike Scioscia.
• Texas Rangers – looking for a replacement for manager Jeff Banister.
• Baltimore Orioles – the Buck Showalter era is over.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.