MLB rumors: Why ex-Yankee Joe Girardi is a long shot for Reds manager

The New York Yankees and Joe Girardi parted ways following the Game 7 loss to the Houston Astros in the 2017 American League Championship Series. The Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers are looking for new managers for the 2019 season.

Former New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi wants to return to the dugout.

There are several MLB teams needing managers as we wind our way through the 2018 postseaon.

That includes the Cincinnati Reds, who finally interviewed Girardi last week.

But according to Fancred’s Jon Heyman, Girardi shouldn’t hold out much hope the Reds will be calling him back:

David Bell, a Cincinnati native, 12-year major league player and current Giants farm director, appears to be the biggest focus of the Reds’ manager search and is considered by some the possible favorite for the job.

Bell, also the son of former big-league Star Buddy Bell, himself a former MLB manager and now a Reds executive, was first reported here to be one of the eight candidates known to be interviewed — including interim manager Jim Riggleman, ex-Red Sox manager John Farrell, ex-Yankees manager Joe Girardi and ex-Tigers manager Brad Ausmus.

Some have suggested the most likely to win the job at the start were Bell, Farrell and Riggleman, who guided the team to a 64-80 record after taking over following a dreadful 3-18 start under Bryan Price.

…

Girardi and Ausmus, like Farrell and Riggleman, too, have extensive MLB managing resumes, with all but Ausmus managing in multiple places. Riggleman is one of a handful of managers to guide five MLB teams.

The Reds also interviewed Billy Hatcher, Freddie Benavides and Pat Kelly from their coaching staff. There’s been some speculation Eduardo Perez, a respected former Astros coach and the son of Reds icon Tony Perez, who also grew up in Cincinnati, could also get a look.

9 burning Yankees questions

The Reds are one of several teams in need of a new skipper:

• Minnesota Twins – fired manager Paul Molitor.
• 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.