Miami Marlins Have Interviewed Mike Redmond, Bryan Price, Larry Bowa For Manager Position

The Miami Marlins are continuing their managerial search, and at least three candidates have been interviewed for the job opening. Last week, we reported that former Marlins catcher Mike Redmond has interviewed for the position, and from the sound of it, his name appears to be high on the list of candidates to take over the job. Various current and former Marlins managerial names have raved about Redmond's capabilities, including former managers Jack McKeon, John Boles, and Fredi Gonzalez.

"He was into the game all the time and is very knowledgeable," said McKeon, who managed Redmond in 2003 and '04. "I thought someday he might be a good manager."

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"He's smart and hard-working," said Boles, who managed the Marlins from 1999-2001 when Redmond was with the team and is now a senior advisor for the Kansas City Royals. "I always thought he'd become a manager or general manager, one of the two."

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/25/3066304/former-teammates-and-coaches-say.html#storylink=cpy

The Marlins like Redmond because of his ties to the organization, as the former catcher spent seven seasons with the major league team and six more years in the minors with Marlins affiliates. Redmond put up a decent career as a backup catcher, but he was often touted as manager material, as many backup catchers with a lack of skill to become starting players often are.

The Marlins like Redmond's ties to the team, and he also has the "inexperienced" aspect on his side, as the Marlins are not interested in paying for a brand-name manager after firing Ozzie Guillen and still owing him $7.5 million over the next three years. But Redmond is not the only former Marlins who has a shot at the job. Former one-time backup outfielder Luis Gonzalez, currently a special assistant to the Arizona Diamondbacks, is also on the short list for the job. Gonzalez has alos never amanged and would not command a large salary, and he played his final major league season with the Marlins in 2008.

Two other names have also been interviewed. The Marlins interviewed Cincinnati Reds pitching coach Bryan Price this past Friday. Price's connections with the team involve president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest, who worked with him in their time with the Seattle Mariners organization. Price has previously interviewed for the Marlins' vacant pitching coach position in 2009, a position that eventually went to Randy St. Claire.

Apparently the Fish have also interviewed former Philadelphia Phillies manager Larry Bowa over the weekend for the position as well. Bowa managed the Phillies during a relatively successful time period from 2001 to 2004, during which the Phillies were 337-308 under his watch. Bowa had a successful run with a talented Phillies team, and it is possible that the Marlins may be able to get him on the relative cheap since Bowa has not managed for some time.

A number of candidates have already denied the Marlins' advances in the managerial search. Brad Ausmus, currently a special assistant with the San Diego Padres, has declined an interview for the position. Former Marlins Mike Lowell and Jeff Conine have said that they are not interested in managing at the moment. There is a a very good chance that the candidates the Fish have interviewed will contain the man who eventually will take over for Ozzie Guillen. The frontrunner remains Redmond thanks to his connections within the organization, but do not expect an answer until after the World Series is over.