Alex Cora interviewing for Padres manager's job

Former major leaguer and current ESPN analyst Alex Cora is interviewing for the San Diego Padres manager's position, CBS MLB Insider Jon Heyman reports.

Cora, who turns 40 in a few days, played in the majors as an infielder from 1998 to 2011 with six teams, most notably with the Dodgers and Red Sox -- with whom he helped win a World Series in 2007. He has worked in TV as an MLB analyst since 2013, but has no professional coaching experience. Similar so-called gaps in experience have not stopped others from getting MLB jobs as managers.

It's also been reported that Cora, the younger brother of former major leaguer and White Sox bench coach Joey Cora, is a candidate for openings with the Nationals and Marlins. Despite a lack of coaching experience, Cora was respected as a player, and seen at the time as a possible future manager. He's also from Puerto Rico and speaks Spanish. With the firing of Lloyd McClendon from the Mariners, the only ethnic minority who also manages in MLB is Fredi Gonzalez of the Braves.

Heyman says Cora is seen these days by the industry as "a very good" managerial prospect.

The Padres dismissed interim manager Pat Murphy after the 2015 season, when the Padres went finished a disappointing 74-88 following an offseason makeover by new general manager A.J. Preller. Murphy had taken over in June for Bud Black, who had managed the club for eight-plus seasons.

Other candidates for the Padres job who reportedly have or will interview include former Twins manager Ron Gardenhire and Pirates coach Rick Sofield. Gardenhire also is seen as a candidate for the Nationals job, recently vacated by the firing of Matt Williams.


(cbssports.com)