Two of the most prominent managerial jobs in Major League Baseball are suddenly available following the abrupt firings of AJ Hinch and Alex Cora, and Buck Showalter is being considered for at least one of them.
Showalter interviewed with the Houston Astros on Wednesday, according to Ken Rosenthal and Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic. The team also has an interview scheduled with John Gibbons.
Buck Showalter interviewed with the #Astros yesterday for their managerial vacancy, sources tell me and @Britt_Ghiroli. John Gibbons interviewing today, per @MarkBermanFox26.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 16, 2020
As Rosenthal notes, Showalter has experience managing a team during a time of turmoil. He was the manager of the New York Yankees during the time period when owner George Steinbrenner was suspended from day-to-day operations for paying a gambler $40,000 to dig up dirt on now-Hall of Famer Dave Winfield.
Buck Showalter, who interviewed with #Astros yesterday, has managed teams in crisis before. Was a #Yankees coach in 1990-‘91 and then their manager from ‘92 to ‘95 – a period that overlapped with the suspension of NYY owner George Steinbrenner from July 30, 1990 to March 1, 1993.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 16, 2020
The Astros still have arguably the most talented roster in baseball, and they will be one of the favorites to win the World Series even without Hinch. Hiring an experienced manager like Showalter could make sense given the circumstances, though they are reportedly combing through a long list of candidates.
Showalter, 63, last managed with the Baltimore Orioles from 2010-2018. He has an overall record of 1,551-1,517, though many of those losses came in his last two seasons in Baltimore when the team stripped down its roster. Showalter openly campaigned for another managerial job after last season, so he clearly wants to manage again.
