Padres News: Dusty Baker Interested in Padres Manager Position

Say what you want about AJ Preller and how he managed the player portion of the Padres last season. This current manager search continues to reveal more about the now second year General Manager than his first year directing the major and minor league field talent. While Preller seems intent on exploring all types of people and experience realms when it comes to looking for a new manager, there is one experienced former 3 time Manager of the Year who will not be on that list.

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Dusty Baker, who last managed in 2013 with the Cincinatti Reds apparently reached out to the San Diego Padres about their opening manager opening according to Scott Miller – and the Padres declined his request for an interview. So you’ll interview Scott Servais but not Dusty Baker?

It’s not everyday that a 20 year major league manager who was a Steve Bartman away from taking the Chicago Cubs to the World Series is turned down. What and who does AJ Preller have up his sleeve?

The managerial search seems to be dragging out at this point. We have heard a lot about who the Padres may or may not be interviewing but not a whole lot on who might be a favorite. When Bud Black was fired in June, interim manager Pat Murphy was appointed almost immediately and it seems now that was more out of convenience than any real long term strategy.

Whoever the person ends up being, I for one am glad that Dusty Baker wasn’t chosen as the eventual manager as he has a long reputation of abusing his starting pitchers (see Mark Prior, Kerry Wood) and questionable in-game decisions. I do think the Padres are looking for that managerial sweet spot of experience but also someone not afraid of innovation. The Padres are clear that Dusty Baker doesn’t fit those categories, I’m just a little surprised he wasn’t at least thrown into the ring.

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