Diamondbacks announce interview list for managerial position

The Diamondbacks announced on Wednesday that they will begin the interview process for their managerial vacancy by interviewing White Sox' third base coach Joe McEwing, ex-Rockies manager Jim Tracy, Reds' bench coach Jay Bell, Indians' bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr., hitting coach Turner Ward, Double-A Mobile manager Andy Green, and Triple-A Reno manager Phil Nevin in the next few days. Other candidates may be added to the list once permission is received from other clubs.

The managerial search will be the first key process completed by new general manager Dave Stewart, who recently fired manager Kirk Gibson and bench coach Alan Trammell less than 24 hours after taking control of the team. He will start the interview process by talking to internal candidates Green, Ward and Nevin (who received interest from the Astros before they hired A.J. Hinch), and will likely talk to about ten candidates before all is said and done.

Candidates with ties to D-Backs' chief baseball officer Tony La Russa may have a leg up in the search, making McEwing a potential favorite along with other prospective candidates like Cardinals' third base coach Jose Oquendo or Twins' bench coach Terry Steinbach. Bell played for the Diamondbacks during his career and is viewed as a prime managerial candidate throughout the league, so he may also have a decent shot at the job.

With two other managerial vacancies open in Texas and Minnesota, the Diamondbacks may look to move quickly in their search in order to get a head start on the Rangers and Twins. It is currently unclear whether or not the team will look at ex-Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who was fired earlier in the week after thirteen years at the helm in Minnesota.