Espada among 3 finalists for Giants job
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants have narrowed their search for a new manager to three finalists, a person with direct knowledge of the process said.
Former Phillies manager Gape Kapler, Astros bench coach Joe Espada and Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro are the final three vying to replace Bruce Bochy, the person said Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the candidates’ names haven’t been made public.
Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi is taking his time making the hire. He has known since February that Bochy would retire.
Others who had been considered were Dodgers bench coach Bob Geren, Giants coaches Ron Wotus and Hensley Meulens, and Athletics coach Mark Kotsay.
The 44-year-old Kapler was fired Oct. 10 after two seasons in Philadelphia and a 161-163 record.
Last week, Espada’s Astros lost Game 7 of the World Series to the Washington Nationals. Quatraro and the Rays beat Oakland in the AL wild card game before losing to Houston.
Bochy managed the Giants to World Series championships in 2010, ‘12 and ‘14. San Francisco went 77-85 in his final year.
The San Francisco Chronicle first reported the three finalists.
In other news:
• Milwaukee closer Josh Hader just made the cutoff for salary arbitration eligibility with 2 years, 115 days of major league service.
Los Angeles Dodgers lefthander Julio Urias also is on the list of 23 so-called
Super 2s with 2 years, 117 days. The cutoff was down significantly from 2 years, 134 days last offseason. Miami lefthander Jarlin Garcia just missed with 2 years, 114 days, and Arizona righthander Luke Weaver had 2 years, 112 days.
The top 22 percent of players by service time with at least two years but less than three are eligible for arbitration as long as they had at least 86 days of service this year.
They join the older group of 3- to 6-year players. Players and teams are scheduled to exchange proposed salaries on Jan. 10, and hearings for those lacking agreements will be scheduled for Feb. 3-21.
The New York Yankees have four Super 2s: righthanders Luis Cessa and Jonathan Holder, lefthander Jordan Montgomery and third baseman Gio Urshela.
Urias is joined by Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger and Hader by Brewers lefty Brent Suter.
Other teams with two eligible Super 2 players include Colorado (lefthander Kyle Freeland and outfielder David Dahl), Tampa Bay (righthander Tyler Glasnow and shortstop Daniel Robertson), the Los Angeles Angels (righthanders Kenyan Middleton and Noe Ramirez) and San Diego (outfielder Hunter Renfroe and righthander Dinelson Lamet).
Also eligible are Atlanta infielder Johan Camargo, Oakland righthander Jharel Cotton, Detroit outfielder Jacoby Jones, Toronto righthander Derek Law, San Francisco lefthander Wandy Peralta, Miami outfielder JT Riddle and Cubs lefthander Kyle Ryan.