The White Sox managerial search has been rather secretive over the course of the past month or so, with just a few names leaking out into the media. This morning, another name became known – this time, a member of the Yankees coaching staff.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the White Sox received permission to interview Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza for their managerial opening. This brings the list of known managerial interviews to seven: Mendoza, Astros bench coach Joe Espada, former White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, former Royals bench coach Pedro Grifol, Braves third base coach Ron Washington, interim manager Miguel Cairo, and now-Royals manager Matt Quatraro.
Heyman also makes it a point to mention something we as Sox fans already know: the White Sox’ managerial hiring has been a relative mystery. Guillen, Washington, and Espada do not seem likely to be hired based on the insider’s latest report.
Who exactly is Carlos Mendoza? Signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 1996, Mendoza played 13 minor league seasons in the San Francisco Giants and Yankees organizations, as well as three seasons within the independent Central League. He was a versatile player, playing every position except catcher and center field, but never made it higher than AAA.
Mendoza, 42, is in his 14th season with the Yankees organization as a coach and his third as the club’s bench coach under Aaron Boone. He began his stint in New York as a minor league coach with Class A Staten Island in 2009 and Charleston in 2010. He made his managerial debut in 2011 with the Gulf Coast League Yankees, leading the club to a championship in his first season. He managed Class A Charleston in 2012 and the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League in 2012 and 2016.
He first joined the Yankees’ major league staff with the arrival of Aaron Boone in 2018, serving as the team’s quality control coach. He previously served as the team’s infield coach before becoming the bench coach. In his time, he has also served as the team’s interim manager briefly in 2021 when Boone underwent surgery.
Mendoza interviewed for managerial positions with the Red Sox and Tigers before the 2021 season. While those positions went to Alex Cora and A.J. Hinch, respectively, Mendoza was seen as a finalist for the Red Sox’s position. Brian Cashman, Yankees’ General Manager and Senior Vice President, has also raved about Mendoza’s future in baseball:
“Carlos is extremely talented … the players trust him. He’s a superior candidate for the next chair within the industry and we’re fortunate right now that he’s here. He’s served us well every step of the way in whatever capacity (he’s been in)… His day is coming. He’s going to be a major league manager and he’s going to be good at it.”
– Brian Cashman on Carlos Mendoza (via Pinstripe Alley)
As mentioned above, the White Sox’s managerial search remains a mystery. They are the only opening remaining, and it has been rumored that the team has truly undergone an extensive search for their next manager. They have been incredibly secretive throughout the process and based on whose reports you trust, you would probably draw different conclusions on who is seen as a finalist for the position. The most frequently discussed names have been Ozzie Guillen, Joe Espada (who has recently been ruled out), and Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long – though, Long has not been confirmed as an interviewed candidate.
The White Sox will likely wait until the World Series is over at this point before making a managerial decision. However, with the GM Winter Meetings just a week after the World Series ends, the club will likely look to make a decision before then.
As more information becomes available, we will continue to keep you updated.
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- Fans give their thoughts on next White Sox manager
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Featured Image: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
I’d still like to see Cleveland bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. emerge as a candidate with Terry Francona set to return as the Guardians manager in 2023.