3 candidates for new Oakland A’s manager
The Oakland A’s certainly did not anticipate having to find a manager atop their to do list for the 2021-22 offseason. Nonetheless, that is where the A’s find themselves, as now former manager Bob Melvin is officially with the San Diego Padres.
It is also a strange time for the A’s to be looking for a manager. The direction of the team is uncertain, especially with ownership likely to tighten the purse strings even more. Normally, the A’s would want someone that can keep their core in the playoff chase, but who knows how much of a core will be left after this offseason?
Who will be the Oakland A’s next manager?
That may well be a factor in the A’s next hiring. If they are ready to rebuild and blow up the roster, they may be more likely to opt for a first time manager. Otherwise, if they are going to give it one more shot, the A’s may look for a more experienced option.
Who will be on the A’s bench next season? Let’s take a look at three potential candidates.
Ryan Christenson
Based on his role and the fact that he is already with the Oakland A’s organization, Ryan Christenson may be the favorite for the job.
He had been Melvin’s bench coach, a job that is either given to an experienced former manager to help mentor a neophyte on the bench or someone viewed as the heir apparent. The A’s may well have been looking to prepare Christenson to take on the role in the event of Melvin’s departure.
Christenson has been with the organization in several roles. He was a tenth round draft pick in 1995, spending his first three major league seasons in Oakland. Once his playing career was over, he returned to the A’s, spending time as a minor league manager, including in Triple-A in 2017.
There is also some controversy surrounding Christenson. He had inadvertently made an offensive salute following a game in 2020, leading to his issuing a statement apologizing for his actions. They may be a consideration in the hiring process.
Ryan Christenson is familiar with the players and organizational philosophy. He has to be considered the favorite to be the Oakland A’s next manager.
Ron Washington
Ron Washington had become a hot name, particularly in relation to the Padres managerial search before they snagged Bob Melvin. He may well fall into the Oakland A’s lap.
Washington has been a part of the A’s organization before. He had several stints on their coaching staff before becoming the Rangers’ manager and is still beloved by the front office. His work with the younger players on the Braves has been considered a key to their success and subsequent World Series run.
There are questions when it comes to Washington. He is already 69 years old, and may not be interested in going through a rebuilding process. The A’s would need to wait until the World Series is over to interview him if they were interested. And then there is the prospect of the New York Mets, who are also looking for a manager and could easily outspend whatever the A’s would be offering.
But Washington does check a lot of the boxes for Oakland. As a baseball lifer, he does have plenty of experience in a variety of role. His work with younger players would certainly help during a potential rebuild. One just has to wonder how long he would be willing to manage for.
Ron Washington is still beloved by the Oakland A’s front office. He may get another opportunity as a manager by coming back home.
Joe Espada
One would imagine that the Oakland A’s would want to avoid anything associated with the Astros. Joe Espada could be an exception.
Espada has become a hot commodity as a future manager. He has interviewed for several positions, and although he has yet to get his first chance at the major league level, it seems to be an inevitability.
He is also removed from AstroGate. Espada did not become the Astros’ bench coach until after the cheating scandal occurred, giving him a chance to be accepted by the fanbase from the start.
While he would be a neophyte on the bench, Espada does have some interesting credentials. His time with the Astros makes him intimately familiar with the AL West, something that could be key given the unbalanced schedule. The A’s could presumably be more competitive than expected just from his being that familiar with the opposition.
Next. Bob Melvin and what could have been. dark
Joe Espada has been viewed as a future manager for a few years. His time may come with the Oakland A’s.