Browsing: manager

Tottenham Hotspur are the latest club to express interest in signing Rangers and Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin. (TeamTalk), external

Danny Rohl wants former Rangers left-back Lee Wallace on his coaching staff if he is given the Ibrox hot seat. (Glasgow Times), external

Ex-Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday says former Ibrox forward Josh Windass has praised Rohl for his coaching abilities at Sheffield Wednesday. (Open Goal podcast via Scottish Sun), external

Alex McLeish – who signed Kevin Muscat for the Light Blues in 2002 – has backed his bid to become Rangers boss. (Scottish Sun), external

US-based chairman Andrew Cavenagh may decide Rangers cannot afford to delay naming a permanent boss and install Rohl before the weekend game against Dundee United. (Scottish Sun), external

Muscat and Neil McCann – who could fill in for the Australian while he becomes available – first thrashed out an agreement about how they would work together at Rangers two years ago. (Daily Record), external

Rangers have spoken to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Bo Svensson as candidates to replace Russell Martin, with the latter dropping out over the weekend. (Scottish Sun), external

If Rohl does end up getting the job, he will be on the back foot from day one and, as sporting director Kevin Thelwell’s pick, is unlikely to be afforded trust or goodwill from Rangers fans. (Daily Record), external

Thelwell’s role at Rangers is under the spotlight despite the departure of the man he appointed, Russell Martin. (The Herald), external

Former Ayr boss Lee Bullen saw plenty of Rangers target Rohl’s Sheffield Wednesday side as a pundit and was impressed that “while he initially had one plan, he seemed able to adapt”. (Scottish Sun), external

Derek McInnes has pledged his commitment to Hearts and brushed off speculation about the Rangers job. (The Scotsman), external

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Phillies manager Rob Thomson will be back in 2026, multiple sources confirmed on Monday.

There had been speculation about a managerial change since last week, when the Phillies lost to the Dodgers in the best-of-five NL Division Series. Instead, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and Thomson will address the future of the franchise — including potential changes to the roster and coaching staff — during a press conference on Thursday at Citizens Bank Park.

A change felt a little like a long shot, but the Phillies have invested hundreds of millions into the payroll and key cogs like Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Zack Wheeler arenâ€t getting younger. So it wouldnâ€t have been a stunner if it had happened, either. The Phillies want to win.

Thomson, 62, has made the postseason in each of his first four years, including 2022, when he replaced Joe Girardi in June and led the Phillies to their first postseason berth since 2011 and their first NL pennant since 2009. He is one of only four managers in baseball history to make the postseason in each of his first four full seasons as manager.

Dave Roberts, Aaron Boone and Mike Matheny are the others.

But the Phillies†postseason has ended in enormous disappointment in the three years since, despite a talented roster and a top-five payroll.

The Phillies got bounced in seven games by Arizona in the 2023 NL Championship Series, losing the final two games at Citizens Bank Park. They lost in four games to the rival Mets in the 2024 NLDS and again to the Dodgers this year. And this year, Thomson took heat for in-game decisions that backfired, including a decision to play for the tie in Game 2 and have Bryson Stott bunt with a runner on second and no outs in the ninth inning.

The Phillies are 3-10 in the postseason since they took a 2-0 lead over the Diamondbacks in the ‘23 NLCS. They are 1-5 at Citizens Bank Park.

But how much of that is on the manager? The Phillies†offense has hit a combined .199 with a .626 OPS and has averaged only 3.2 runs per game since Game 2 of the â€23 NLCS.

Phillies relievers have a 5.58 ERA in that span.

“I love Topper, man,†Harper said. “Heâ€s done a great job for us. I donâ€t know what the future holds. I have no idea. I think thatâ€s a Dombrowski question. But obviously, you know we love Topper in here. Heâ€s been great for us.â€

Thomsonâ€s contract runs through next season, but he knows anybody in baseball can be fired at any time for any reason.

“It’s out of my control,†he said after Game 4 last week. “I’m not even thinking about it. I’ve got 60 people in there that are brokenhearted right now. So I’m thinking about that more so than my job right now.â€

By bringing back Thomson, the Phillies are saying the teamâ€s shortcomings lie beyond the manager. Thatâ€s why changes are expected elsewhere.

The Phillies have a host of free agents, including Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Ranger Suárez, Harrison Bader (mutual option), José Alvarado (club option), Max Kepler, David Robertson and Jordan Romano. They tried to trade Alec Bohm last offseason. They tried to trade Nick Castellanos each of the past two offseasons, which might be easier this winter because he is entering the final year of a five-year, $100 million contract.

They have Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford and Aidan Miller waiting in the wings in Triple-A.

It isnâ€t easy to win, regardless of the talent on the roster. For argumentâ€s sake, letâ€s remove the Dodgers†2020 pandemic-shortened World Series championship from Roberts†résumé. He finally won a full-season World Series title last year in his eighth full season.

Thatâ€s seven NL West titles in eight years (again, excluding 2020) but only one World Series title to show for it.

What happened those other years?

Braves manager Bobby Cox led the Braves to 14 consecutive NL East titles from 1991-2005, excluding the strike-shortened ‘94 season. The Braves won only one World Series in that run.

What happened those other 13 years?

Bad managing? Or maybe other forces were at play.

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Oct 13, 2025, 01:10 PM ET

The first managerial changes of the 2025-26 MLB offseason came on the first day after the season, when the San Francisco Giants dismissed Bob Melvin, the Minnesota Twins fired Rocco Baldelli, and the Texas Rangers announced that Bruce Bochy will not return.

Then came the news that manager Ron Washington and interim manager Ray Montgomery both will not return to the Los Angeles Angels, and Brian Snitker informed the Atlanta Braves he won’t return as manager.

In perhaps the most surprising managing development of the offseason, Mike Shildt is retiring as San Diego Padres manager after guiding San Diego to consecutive postseason appearances.

Which major league teams will change managers next? And who could be next in line?

ESPN will track all of the managerial hirings and firings — and provide potential top replacements for every opening as they happen.

Jump to:
Openings | Hirings

Managerial openings

San Diego Padres

2025 manager: Mike Shildt (Oct. 13)

Shildt is retiring after two years as the manager in San Diego, sources confirmed to ESPN. The Padres made the playoffs in both seasons, going 90-72 in 2025 before falling to the Cubs in the wild-card round.

Shildt had two years remaining on the contract extension he signed in November 2024 coming off a 93-win season that ended with a division series loss to the Dodgers.

“We would like to congratulate Mike on a successful career and thank him for his significant contributions to the Padres and the San Diego community over the last four years, including consecutive 90-win seasons and two postseason appearances as manager,” Padres general manager A.J. Preller said in a statement. “His dedication and passion for the game of baseball will leave an impact on our organization, and we wish him the best in his next chapter. The search for a new manager of the Padres will begin immediately with the goal of winning a World Series championship in 2026.”

Top potential candidates:

A.J. Ellis:Currently works as a special assistant to Preller; played 11 MLB seasons for Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins and Padres.

Ryan Flaherty: Currently serves as Chicago Cubs bench coach; played eight seasons for the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Guardians.

2025 manager: Bob Melvin (Sept. 29)

Melvin is out after two seasons in San Francisco as the Giants opted to fire him even after picking up his option for the 2026 season in July.

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It was an up-and-down season for the Giants, who ultimately finished third in the National League West and went a combined 161-163 in Melvin’s two seasons. San Francisco has not finished with a winning record or in higher than third place in the division since its 107-win 2021 season.

“After careful evaluation, we determined that making a change in leadership was in the best interest of the team,” said Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey. “The last couple of months have been both disappointing and frustrating for all of us, and we did not perform up to our standards. We now turn our focus to identifying a new leader to guide us forward.”

Top potential candidates

Craig Albernaz:Currently serves as associate manager for Cleveland Guardians; previously worked with Giants as bullpen and catching coach

Dusty Baker:Last served as Houston Astros manager in 2023; managed the Giants from 1993 to 2002.

Bruce Bochy: Manager of the Texas Rangers from 2023-25 (contract expired at end of 2025 season); won three World Series with Giants while Posey was San Francisco’s catcher.

Bobby Crosby:Current A’s first-base coach; played eight MLB seasons with A’s, Pirates and D-backs

Ryan Flaherty:Currently serves as Chicago Cubs bench coach; played eight seasons for the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Guardians.

Mark Hallberg:Current Giants first base coach; played college baseball with Posey at Florida State.

Nick Hundley:Works as special assistant to the general manager for the Texas Rangers; Former MLB catcher who was teammates with Posey on 2017-18 Giants.

Tony Vitello:Currently serves as head baseball coach at the University of Tennessee; led Vols to 2024 Men’s College World Series title.

Minnesota Twins

2025 manager:Rocco Baldelli (Sept. 29)

Like Melvin, Baldelli was fired after his team picked up his option for the 2026 season.

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Whether your team is headed to October or packing its bags for the offseason, how did 2025 measure up to expectations? David Schoenfield »

The Twins went 527-505 and won the AL Central three times during his seven seasons in Minnesota, but the Twins went just 70-92 this season.

“This game is ultimately measured by results, and over the past two seasons we did not reach the goals we set,” president Derek Falvey said in a team release.

Top potential candidates

Craig Albernaz: Currently serves as associate manager for Guardians

Kai Correa:Currently works as field coordinator/director of defense, baserunning and game strategy for the Guardians

Torii Hunter:Currently serves as special assistant to Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian; played with Twins from 1997-2007

James Rowson:Current hitting coach for the New York Yankees; previously worked as Twins hitting coach

Derek Shelton:Managed the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2020 to May 2025; previously served as Twins bench coach

Drew Butera:Catching coach for the Chicago White Sox in 2025; played for the Twins from 2010 to 2013

Jayce Tingler:Current Twins bench coach; served as Padres manager from 2020-21

Los Angeles Angels

2025 manager: Ron Washington and Ray Montgomery (interim) (Sept. 30)

Ron Washington, who missed the majority of the 2025 season after undergoing quadruple bypass heart surgery, will not be returning as manager of the Los Angeles Angels in 2026, a source confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.

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We rank the clubs with the most star power under control through 2027. Kiley McDaniel »

Interim manager Ray Montgomery also will not get the full-time manager role in 2026, a source confirmed to ESPN, as the Angels will search for their sixth manager in nine years.

The Angels finished the year with a 72-90 record, accounting for their 10th consecutive losing season.

Top potential candidates

Darin Erstad:Former Nebraska baseball head coach; played for the Angels from 2006-16

Torii Hunter:Currently serves as special assistant to Angels general manager Perry Minasian; played with Angels from 2008-2012

Albert Pujols:Manages Leones del Escogido in Dominican Winter League; played for Angels from 2012-21

Tim Salmon:Played for the Angels for 14 seasons; won 2002 World Series and 1993 AL Rookie of the Year

Mike Scioscia:Managed the Angels from 2000-18; managed USA Baseball in 2021 Olympics

Atlanta Braves

2025 manager:Brian Snitker (Oct. 1)

Brian Snitker will not return as manager of the Atlanta Braves, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. He informed the team of his decision Tuesday, but he will remain with the organization in a senior advisory capacity.

Snitker, whose contract expired after his ninth season as manager, has been with the Braves organization in some capacity as a player, coach and manager since 1977 and led Atlanta to the 2021 World Series championship.

The Braves went 76-86 in 2025, finishing fourth in the National League East.

Top potential candidates:

Mark DeRosa:Managed Team USA during the 2023 World Baseball Classic; played for the Braves from 1998-2004

John Gibbons:Managed Blue Jays from 2004-2008 and 2013-2018

David Ross:Managed Chicago Cubs from 2020-2023; played for the Braves from 2009-2012

Walt Weiss:Currently serves as Braves bench coach after managing Colorado Rockies from 2013-2016; played for Braves from 1998-2000

Managerial hirings

Texas Rangers

2025 manager: Bruce Bochy (Sept. 29)
2026 manager:Skip Schumaker (Oct. 3)

Bochy, who led the Rangers to their first World Series title in 2022, will not return to Texas after he and the team mutually agreed to end his tenure. Bochy was offered a front office role to remain with Texas in an advisery capacity.

Bochy went 249-237 in Texas, including an 81-81 record this year — his first career .500 season. Bochy turned 70 this season and ranks as baseball’s winningest active manager; his 2,252 wins rank sixth all time.

“Bruce Bochy is one of the greatest managers in baseball history, and he will forever hold a place in the hearts of Ranger fans after bringing home the first World Series title in franchise history in 2023,” said Chris Young, the Rangers’ president of baseball operations. “Boch brought class and respect to our club in his return to the dugout, and we will always take pride in being part of his Hall of Fame career. We are grateful for everything he has given to the organization over the past few seasons and hopeful he can continue to impact the Rangers for many years to come.”

2026 manager:Skip Schumaker

Rangers hired Schumaker on a four-year contract Friday night, promoting him from a role as senior advisor to Chris Young.

“While I attained a good understanding of the organization through my front office role this past season, the conversations with Chris Young, [general manager] Ross Fenstermaker, and others this week have only intensified my interest in this opportunity,” Schumaker said in a prepared statement. “I can’t wait to begin the work for 2026.”

Schumaker managed the Miami Marlins from 2022-24, winning 2023 NL Manager of the Year when Miami went 84-78 and made the fourth postseason appearance in club history.

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Oct 13, 2025, 12:30 PM ET

Mike Shildt is retiring as San Diego Padres manager with two years remaining on his contract, saying “the grind of the baseball season has taken a severe toll on me mentally, physically and emotionally.”

The 57-year-old Shildt on Saturday informed the team he would retire, nine days after the Padres were eliminated by the Chicago Cubs in a tense three-game wild-card series. He said he made the decision on his own accord.

Shildt led the Padres to the postseason in each of the two seasons he managed the franchise. The club confirmed Shildt’s decision Monday.

“While it has always been about serving others, it’s time I take care of myself and exit on my terms,” Shildt said in a statement given to the San Diego Union-Tribune. “I gave every fiber of my being to help achieve Peter Seidler’s vision of bringing a World Series Championship to San Diego.

“We fell short of the ultimate goal, but I am proud of what the players, staff and organization were able to accomplish the last two seasons.”

Shildt went 183-141 as manager in San Diego. The Padres won 90 games this season and finished second in the NL West before being eliminated by the Cubs.

“I am most grateful for our players,” Shildt said in his statement. “San Diego is rightfully proud of the Padres players. It is a group that conducts themselves with class, is dedicated to each other and the common goal of winning a World Series. I love our players and will miss them dearly!!

“After 34 years of dedicating myself to the rigors of coaching and managing, I can with great enjoyment look back on achieving my two primary goals: To help players get the most out of their God given ability and become better men. Also, to win games.”

Before joining the Padres organization in early 2022 as a player development coach, Shildt was the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals from 2018 to 2021, posting a winning record in each of his three full seasons. He was the NL Manager of the Year in 2019 after leading the Cards to 91 wins and the NL Central title.

“We would like to congratulate Mike on a successful career and thank him for his significant contributions to the Padres and the San Diego community over the last four years,” Padres general manager A.J. Preller wrote as part of a statement.

Preller added that the search for a new Padres manager “will begin immediately with the goal of winning a World Series championship in 2026.”

The next Padres manager will be the sixth to work under Preller since he was hired to lead the baseball operations department in 2014, following Bud Black, Andy Green, Jayce Tingler, Bob Melvin and Shildt, whose retirement makes the Padres one of eight teams searching for a new manager this offseason.

Information from ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez and The Associated Press was used in this report.

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DETROIT — Detroit Tigers general manager Scott Harris said he extended manager A.J. Hinchâ€s contract during the 2025 season and insisted ownership will provide the resources necessary to sign ace Tarik Skubal to a long-term deal.

Harris and Hinch had a news conference, wrapping up their season that ended with a 3-2, 15-inning loss at Seattle in Game 5 of the AL Division Series and looking ahead to next year and beyond.

“I wish we werenâ€t here right now,†Harris said. “I wish we were in Toronto, preparing for Game 2 of the ALCS.â€

Harris said he approached Hinch during the season, his fifth in Detroit, about extending his contract for a second time and they reached a deal quickly. Harris also signed Hinch to a long-term contract in 2023.

“Heâ€s one of the best managers in the game,†Harris said.

Harris declined to say how long Hinch is under contract.

“We want him to be here as long as heâ€s willing to be here,†Harris said. “I want to work with him as long as I can possibly work with him.â€

The Tigers also would like to have Skubal report to work in Detroit for years to come, but know that will be costly. He won the AL Cy Young Award and was the leagueâ€s pitching Triple Crown winner in 2024. He followed that with a career-low 2.21 ERA and a career-high 241 strikeouts.

“Heâ€s the best pitcher in baseball,†Harris said. “Heâ€s hopefully going to win a second Cy Young.â€

Skubal signed a one-year, $10.15 million contract during the last offseason — avoiding salary arbitration — and heâ€s set to become a free agent after the 2026 season.

To keep him off the market, team owner Chris Ilitch would have to spend many millions.

Harris insisted Ilitch will support the organization with what is needed for payroll, including what it would take to keep the 28-year-old lefty long term.

“I have no concerns about that,†Harris said.

Harris does have concerns about why the Tigers collapsed in September, when they blew the biggest lead in division or league history, and their poor performance at the plate in the postseason.

“I deserve to get those questions and we deserve the negative narrative that is swirling around this team,†he said.

Detroit had the best record in baseball for much of the season, then slumped into the trade deadline when Harris did not make a major move.

While Harris did not regret passing on pitchers he was offered, he said it is fair to question why he didnâ€t add a bat to the lineup.

“Maybe we shouldâ€ve,†he said.

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Tuchel is well known for being direct and sometimes confrontational in his quotes.

In August he apologised for describing midfielder Jude Bellingham’s on-field behaviour as “repulsive”, saying he used the word “unintentionally”.

Tuchel has made friends and enemies at many of the previous clubs he has managed: Mainz, Borussia Dortmund, Paris St-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

Is this a cultural thing – and Germans are more direct than English fans are used to – or just a Tuchel thing?

German journalist Constantin Eckner believes it is the latter.

“That has nothing to do with Tuchel being German,” he said.

“That’s just how Tuchel thinks and acts. He is very direct, blatantly honest and can be annoyed by certain things.

“He rarely holds back, and is in a sense the new Jose Mourinho, who similarly speaks his mind during press conferences and post-game interviews.”

Eckner says some of this comes from Tuchel being used to club football. This is his first international job, starting it at the beginning of 2025.

“It certainly is a deviation from the way Gareth Southgate behaved during his tenure,” the journalist said.

“Also, I think Tuchel is not yet used to home crowds being that reserved, which can happen at international games.

“During his time as a club manager, the home fans were usually buzzing. Even Mainz had a great home game atmosphere.”

After the quotes on Bellingham which were heavily critised, Tuchel said: “I thought I had a little more credit with you guys [media] that I do all this in my second language.”

But this instance is not a case of using the wrong word.

Eckner said: “In a way, people have to live with Tuchel being this direct. His command of the English language is very good.”

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Things were unravelling.

Davids used to miss some away games that involved more travel – a deal which had been agreed with Kleanthous.

There were rumours he would attend parties or go shopping instead – but Landvreugd said that was not true.

“He was in Amsterdam with people working for his clothing company,” said Landvreugd, who currently manages Den Bosch.

“It took a lot of time off him. He flew over one day or two days mostly doing that and nothing else.”

Landvreugd and Schreuder, both popular figures around the club, would take charge of games Davids missed.

Fairclough explained: “The players didn’t know what was going on. They didn’t know who was manager and who was the coach, who was going to take the next training session.”

Hyde tells a story of Davids sitting on the coach ready for an away game, before discovering it was going to take five hours.

“He shut his laptop, picked it up and walked off the coach,” he said.

Davids’ camp say this was before the Chester game on 18 January 2014.

“There was another situation that happened just before the team was about to leave on the coach, which was actually the final straw,” a representative said.

The fans loved Davids but grew frustrated with him missing games – and Kleanthous asked him if he could commit fully to going to every game.

His exit was announced hours after Barnet lost 2-1 at Chester leaving them 10th in the table.

Kleanthous accepts Davids had “started to lose interest” at this stage.

“He’d become less committed in my opinion and at that point it was time to shake hands and call it a day,” said Kleanthous.

Hyde added: “It’s funny if it happens once, but two or three times and you get beaten, and it’s your livelihoods, then it’s not funny anymore.

“We’ve got a manager who doesn’t turn up. In professional football, I don’t think that’s ever happened.”

Davids left Barnet with 25 wins in 68 games as a manager, plus one goal and five red cards in 39 games as a player.

Kleanthous concluded: “I look back on those as great times and I have nothing but respect for what he did.

“He came in, asked for nothing, worked his hardest, did his best and was a little bit unlucky in the end.”

Landvreugd and Schreuder were named joint-managers after Davids’ exit, but just two months later were replaced by Martin Allen.

Davids’ only managerial job since was six months in charge of Portuguese third-tier side Olhanense in 2021. He was the Netherlands assistant manager at the 2022 World Cup.

“He still wishes Barnet all the best, continues to follow them, and keeps in touch with Tony [Kleanthous],” said his representative.

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ATLANTA — Though there was a year-long expectation this would be Brian Snitkerâ€s final season as the Braves’ manager, there is still some uncertainty about who will be his successor.

Bobby Cox (1990-2010) and two of his disciples, Fredi Gonzalez (2011-16) and Snitker (2016-2025) account for the only three managers the Braves have had since midway through the 1990 season. Atlanta won 21 division titles, captured six National League pennants and won two World Series trophies during this 35-year span.

Will the Cox lineage continue with this next managerial hire?

David Ross, Mark DeRosa, Walt Weiss and Eddie Perez are among Coxâ€s former Braves players who have interest in the vacancy. But thereâ€s a chance Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos will choose a manager without any previous ties to the organization.

“You just canâ€t rush it or force it,†Anthopoulos said. “Itâ€s a big decision. Itâ€s a big hire. Youâ€d love to do it sooner rather than later. But every team going through this would tell you the same thing.â€

Though many fans have been devising their own wish lists over the past few months, Anthopoulos said as of Saturday morning, he hadnâ€t created his own list of candidates. He also said if the process works as he hopes, the candidates†names wonâ€t leak before a hire is made.

Anthopoulos has started to do his due process with background checks. Here are the names of some guys who could end up interviewing for the Braves job.

Ross: Before he became a clubhouse favorite at Fenway and Wrigley, the former catcher was a beloved Brave from 2009-12. He didnâ€t have any managerial experience before leading the Cubs to a winning record in two of his four seasons as the skipper on the North Side.

If the Braves are keeping hitting coach Tim Hyers, Ross and Hyers developed a good friendship when the former was a catcher and the latter was a Minor League coach in Bostonâ€s organization more than a decade ago.

DeRosa: This MLB Network star has come a long way since being the quiet young guy who drew the favor of Chipper Jones, B.J. Surhoff and many other veteran Braves around the start of this century. His lone managerial experience came as Team USA’s skipper in the World Baseball Classic, but heâ€s a great communicator who could benefit from an experienced bench coach like…

John Gibbons: Before serving as the Mets bench coach the past two seasons, Gibbons was Anthopoulos†manager in Toronto from 2013-15. The bond led to Gibbons being hired as a special assignment scout for the Braves in 2020.

The 63-year-old Gibbons†familiarity with Anthopoulos makes him an iteresting candidate to be the Braves†next manager or bench coach, especially if Anthopoulos tabs a skipper with limited managerial experience.

Walt Weiss: Speaking of bench coaches, Weiss was considered by some to be the manager-in-waiting as he spent the past eight seasons as Snitkerâ€s bench coach. Weiss previously served as the Rockies†manager from 2013-16.

Given there was never any attempt by the Braves to push Snitker toward managing another season, thereâ€s reason to question if Anthopoulos will choose to go in a new direction with his managerial hire and most coaching staff positions.

Perez: The 1999 NLCS MVP was a hot managerial candidate a little more than a decade ago. Even if the Braves go a different direction with the manager and staff, there should seemingly be a coaching spot for Perez. The Braves dismissed catching coach Sal Fasano after last season. That opened the door for Perez to have a significant impact on the defensive strides top NL Rookie of the Year candidate Drake Baldwin made this year.

Ryan Flaherty: Flahertyâ€s star has risen since he spent much of the 2018 season serving as Nick Markakis†carpool partner in Atlanta. The Cubs†bench coach seems to be on the path toward a successful career as a big league manager.

George Lombard: Itâ€s been a long time since John Schuerholz took pride in luring Lombard away from his commitment to play running back at the University of Georgia. Lombard currently serves as the Tigers†bench coach. Like Flaherty, the Atlanta native is a highly-respected communicator who seems to have what it takes to be a successful big league skipper.

Danny Lehmann: Anthopoulos was in the Dodgers’ front office when he crossed paths with LAâ€s current bench coach. Lehmann was serving as the teamâ€s advanced video scout at the time. His significant rise led him to his current role in 2023.

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ARLINGTON, Texas — The Rangers have hired Skip Schumaker as their manager, agreeing Friday night on a four-year contract with the former National League Manager of the Year.

Schumaker’s deal was announced after Chris Young, the team’s president of baseball operations, acknowledged earlier in the day that the Rangers were focused on an internal candidate in their search to replace Bruce Bochy. Schumaker had been in a senior advisory role with the Rangers since November.

Schumaker, 45, was the 2023 NL Manager of the Year when the Miami Marlins went 84-78 and made the fourth postseason appearance in club history. That was the same year Texas, with Bochy in his debut, won its first World Series championship.

“While I attained a good understanding of the organization through my front office role this past season, the conversations with Chris Young, [GM] Ross Fenstermaker, and others this week have only intensified my interest in this opportunity,” Schumaker said in a statement. “I can’t wait to begin the work for 2026.”

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The Rangers and the 70-year-old Bochy, a four-time World Series champion who was baseball’s winningest active manager, agreed Monday to end his managerial stint as his three-year contract ended. That was the day after Texas finished 81-81 for its second non-winning record since its championship.

The Marlins slipped to 62-100 in 2024 after changes in the front office and with a roster decimated by trades and injuries. Schumaker and the Marlins agreed that he wouldn’t return for the 2025 season.

Texas then hired Schumaker in November, a move viewed by many as making him the heir apparent to Bochy.

“We are thrilled to announce this promotion and have Skip leading this club in the dugout,” Young said in a statement. “Over his past year as a senior advisor to our baseball operations group, Skip has proven to be driven, passionate and thorough in everything he does. He has a winning spirit and energy, and we are fortunate that someone so highly regarded in the industry has agreed to become our manager.”

The Rangers became the first of eight major league teams to fill a managerial vacancy. Young declined to say earlier in the day if any other teams had requested permission to speak with Schumaker.

Before going to Miami, Schumaker was a bench coach in St. Louis, where he played for the Cardinals during their 2011 World Series win over the Rangers. He played 11 big league seasons with St. Louis (2005-12), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2013) and Cincinnati (2014-15).

Schumaker will take over a Rangers team that for the first time in franchise history this year led the majors in ERA (3.47) and will bring back starting pitchers Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Jack Leiter. The Rangers also set a single-season MLB record with its .99112 fielding percentage, bettering the 2013 Baltimore Orioles’ mark of .99104.

But the Rangers ranked 26th in the majors with a .234 batting average and 22nd with 684 runs scored.

“It was a little bit bittersweet. It was painful to really see some of the things that we did so well, and then also there was optimism to know that we did so many things so well and came up short,” Young said earlier Friday. “But there’s a lot to look forward to moving forward, and I think there’s a lot of optimism I have that this is going to get corrected quickly. I mean, we’re not talking about a 20-game jump here to make the playoffs.”

Fenstermaker said that though Schumaker lives on the West Coast, he had been very involved with the team in his advisory role.

“He’d spend time with us and many different folks in the front office, add his perspective, his wisdom. He was around and available a lot,” Fenstermaker said. “We probably talked to him every few days, if not daily, throughout the course of the year and bounce ideas off him and get his perspective.”

Bochy has been offered an advisory role in the Rangers’ front office. He also could be in line for such a position with the San Francisco Giants, though he isn’t a candidate for the managerial opening of the team he led to World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

With 2,252 wins, Bochy is sixth among major league managers, with the five ahead of him all in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy is keeping a permanent version of the uniform patch players wore in honor of late play-by-play announcer Bob Uecker during the 2025 MLB season.

Murphy told reporters Friday he had gotten the patch tattooed on his arm (h/t Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).

The tattoo was done by Scottsdale artist Justin Gorelik, Murphy told reporters.

Murphy and the Brewers are currently preparing for Game 1 of the NLDS, which starts Saturday at 2:08 p.m. ET against the visiting Chicago Cubs.

Uecker played six seasons in MLB before later gaining fame as a late-night TV star. The former catcher began working the Brewers radio broadcast in 1971 and became the voice of the franchise over the next 54 years. He died in January at age 90.

The uniform patch, unveiled by the Brewers ahead of the 2025 campaign, featured Uecker’s signature over a baseball surrounded by a ring of plaid representing his trademark sportscoats.

The Brewers also honored the broadcaster by painting his signature on the field and having all players wear Uecker jerseys during a celebration of his life in August.

Last season, Uecker joined Murphy and the Brewers in the clubhouse to celebrate the Chicago Cubs loss that clinched the Brewers’ NL Central title.

“We were doing our show and I watched it with him. What’s better than that? Awesome,” Murphy told reporters last September.

This season, with Uecker gone, Murphy celebrated the Brewers becoming the first team in MLB to clinch a spot in the 2025 postseason by reading a letter to his clubhouse that he had written in the style of the late broadcaster.

The day Murphy showed his tattoo to reporters coincided with the one-year anniversary of Uecker’s final radio call for the Brewers, Rosiak noted. That took place last October during a Wild Card loss to the New York Mets.

The Brewers will hope to put together a longer postseason run in Uecker’s honor this fall, starting with Saturday’s NLDS opener against the Cubs.

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