In-House Candidate AJ Hinch Withdraws as Candidate for the San Diego Padres GM Opening

This week saw a sixth candidate drop out of the race to work between Mike Dee and Bud Black as GM of the San Diego Padres. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Another third of the San Diego Padres interim front office triumvirate removed his name from the list of candidates to fill the general manager’s office permanently.

CBS Sports baseball insider Jon Heyman reported Padres assistant GM A.J. Hinch turned down a chance to interview for the opening “recently.” Perhaps an unexpected turn for Hinch who, at lease logically, would have seemed to have had the inside track to becoming a finalist for the gig at the very least. As Heyman points out, the former Diamondbacks field manager had been the point man on the team running the day to day that included Omar Minaya and Fred Ulhman Jr. Minaya recently also declined to interview for the full time position recently.

The list of those saying ‘thanks, but no thanks’ to the search committee is growing to rival that of the list who are going to be interviewed. Lists circulating, including one compiled by Heyman, puts the number at eight interviews either completed or forthcoming, and six flat out no’s.

As for Hinch, there is plenty to speculate about as for the reasoning behind his decision to try and climb no higher to the GM’s chair. First among them may be his itch to be back in the dugout. The former catcher clearly did not avail himself of his first shot at a managing job in Arizona and his pursuit of the Cubs job last winter would both seem to signal there is a desire to return to that end of the business. Staying put where he is now could keep that option open.

With the reported cut off point for making a hire by the July 31st trade deadline looming, Heyman put forth the following remaining candidate pool for the Padres GM job:

“…former Marlins president Larry Beinfest, Dodgers scouting director Logan White, Yankees assistant GM Billy Eppler, Red Sox assistant GM Mike Hazen, MLB executive Kim Ng, Rangers assistant GM A.J. Preller, Diamondbacks scouting director Ray Montgomery and Padres assistant GM Josh Stein.”

That list all assuming the Padres don’t put on a clinic in turning eight yes’s into any more no’s.