A’s bench coach Chip Hale will interview for the Arizona Diamondbacks open managerial position sometime next week.
Hale, 49, has been considered one of the majors’ rising managerial candidates. He was part of the final pool of interviews last offseason for the Seattle Mariners job that ultimately went to Lloyd McClendon. He also interviewed for the New York Mets’ job following the 2010 season.
Hale, who attended Campolindo High School in Moraga, said each season serving as the right-hand man to A’s skipper Bob Melvin prepares him more and more to be a major league manager.
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“Anytime in baseball that you have the opportunity to be on the bench and see different things happen, I don’t think you’re ever done learning, whether you’re in the game one year or 30 years,” Hale said. “As a bench coach, you basically are managing the game along with the manager. That’s why I wanted to become a bench coach and third base coach. I thought it was my next step.”
Hale is familiar with both Diamondbacks Chief Baseball Officer Tony La Russa and new general manager Dave Stewart through their A’s connections. He also knows Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall.
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A large pool of candidates reportedly are lined up to interview with Arizona, including Sandy Alomar Jr., Jay Bell, Andy Green, Joe McEwing, Phil Nevin, Jim Tracy, former A’s bench coach Don Wakamatsu and Turner Ward.
The Minnesota Twins also are looking for a manager, and Hale spent six of his seven big league seasons with the Twins, so he has connections to that organization as well.
