Bruce Bochy will not manage in 2020, could return in 2021

Bruce Bochy has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the San Diego Padres manager job now that he has stepped down from the same position with the San Francisco Giants, but the three-time World Series champion has taken himself out of consideration.

The Padres are one of several teams with managerial vacancies that have reached out to Bochy, but Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that Bochy has informed teams he will not manage next season. The 64-year-old has not ruled out returning in 2021.

Several clubs have reached out to Bruce Bochy about their managerial vacancy, including the #Padres, who offered him a job, but Bochy says will take the year off before deciding whether he wants to return in 2021. He will be a #SFGiants special assistant during the 2020 season.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 18, 2019

Bochy would probably have his pick of jobs any time he chooses to return, as he has been considered one of the best managers in baseball for over a decade. He won three championships with the Giants from 2007-2019 and had a postseason record of 36-17.

The fact that Bochy is not going to manage in 2020 is good news for another candidate for the Padres job, and that probably makes the team’s decision a lot easier.