The bench coach for the Oakland A’s, Chip Hale, was recently hired as the Arizona Diamondbacks new manager. Hale has been with the Athletics since 2011 and has long been considered manager material. Known for his strong work ethic and strong leadership, Hale will be missed on the Oakland A’s coaching staff and players. So who will replace Hale as the new Athletics bench coach?
Chili Davis (1996)
There are a few options. Many are thinking that the obvious choice is batting coach Chili Davis. However, there have been rumors that the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Texas Rangers are interested in Davis. Furthermore, the A’s have given Davis permission to interview with other teams even though he has not yet stated that he plans to switch teams. The Red Sox and Yankees could most likely offer him more money than the Oakland A’s, but the chance to be a bench coach instead of a hitting coach may entice Davis to stay with the Athletics.
Another name that has been floating around the rumor mill is Mike Aldrete, the current St. Louis Cardinals bench coach. Aldrete’s permanent residence is in Northern California and many think he would take the job in order to be closer to home. However, the Cardinals do pay their coaches very well and the team regularly makes it to the postseason. It could be a tough sell for the Oakland A’s.
It is not unlikely for the Oakland A’s to also look at Diamondbacks’ recently fired manager Kirk Gibson. Gibson was the bench coach for two years for current A’s manager Bob Melvin when Melvin was the manager for the Diamondbacks. Given that Gibson and Melvin have worked together in the past, it could be a good matchup. However, Gibson might not want to demote himself to a bench coach after being the manager in Arizona for four years and being named NL Manager of the Year in 2011.
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Lastly, if the Oakland A’s are going to look at their own staff, it is quite possible they will look at Steve Scarsone, the A’s Triple-A Sacramento current team manager. He managed two years in Double-A and just finished up his second year in Sacramento. If his upward progress continues, it would make sense for him to fill a coaching position for the Oakland A’s in 2015. Though the question remains as to if he is ready for a bench coach position.
Things will become very interesting if Davis also decides to leave the Oakland A’s. If the Athletics lose both Hale and Davis this offseason, it will be a huge blow to their coaching staff. They will need to look for quality replacements who work hard, provide leadership, and can handle the ups and downs of the Oakland A’s success. It has become quite clear that this will be a rebuilding year for the team – not just when it comes to the players but also for the coaching staff.
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This article Oakland A’s: Who will replace Chip Hale? appeared first on isportsweb by Sam Riley