The Palm Beach Post’s Joe Capozzi reports that new Marlins skipper Fredi Gonzalez (above), though introduced to the South Florida media yesterday, was actually hired last week, prior to Joe Girardi’s dismissal — also before Gonzalez’ Braves had finished playing out the string.
Gonzalez interviewed with the Marlins last fall before Jeffrey Loria hired Girardi.
That’s why the team knew it wanted Gonzalez when the front office decided two weeks ago that Girardi would not return, General Manager Larry Beinfest said.
Aware that other managing jobs likely would come open, the Marlins first contacted Gonzalez on Sept. 25 and had an agreement with him two days later, Beinfest said.
“We knew Fredi was our guy, and we wanted to beat our competition to him,” Beinfest said.
Gonzalez said he was told by Schuerholz on Monday that the Washington Nationals had called for permission to interview him.
The SF Chronicle’s Henry Shulman tips former Snakes manager / current Cubs mouthpiece Bob Brenly to be interviewed for the Giants’ job, along with consideration given towards SF bench coach Ron Wotus and A’s infield coach Ron Washington.
Others who might be considered include longtime major-league manager Lou Piniella and Angels pitching coach Bud Black, who said Tuesday the Giants had not contacted him. Black said he would be “very interested” in an interview.
Dusty Baker, who just lost his job with the Cubs, should not expect a call from Sabean. Baker’s bitter divorce from the Giants after the 2002 season likely would be too high a mountain for both sides to climb. When asked during a KNBR interview Monday if Baker would be interviewed, Sabean said, “I wouldn’t think so.” A longtime Baker friend said he would be “shocked” to see him managing the Giants again.
Sabean has suggested there are potential candidates on current playoff teams, whom he could not interview until their teams are eliminated. They could include Washington and former White Sox manager Jerry Manuel, a Sacramento native and current Mets bench coach.