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Many Jobs Open, Not Just Managers by Bruce Grimes

Florida Teams a Good Fit for Mr. Macha

Though Ken Macha did not get the nod as the next Pirates’ manager, he still has plenty of options. Due to his reputation as a manager who excels with young players, his market value is high.

Like his old club, the Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Devil Rays have outstanding young talent. The Marlins (29.2 years) track older than the Devil Rays, thanks to a mix of veterans along with playoff tested youth, such as outfielder Miguel Cabrera, and pitchers Dontrelle Willis, and Josh Beckett.

Click below for more from Bruce, great article, thanks, MartyThe Marlins’ new manager’s toughest task may be to find a way to get through to talented outfielder Miguel Cabrera. Reports surfaced late in the season that he had a poor work ethic and had offended some of the club’s veterans.

Of all the teams looking for managers, the Tampa Bay franchise has the best overall offensive talent. The Devil Rays (27.6 years) have an offense that features Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldellli, Jorge Cantu, and Bay Area native, Jonny Gomes. What the Devil Rays need to contend is better infield defense, and most importantly, veteran pitching to go with talented left-hander Scott Kazmir. With new management in place, they may decide to make a splash and sign free agent pitcher A.J. Burnett. Or, they may go after the other quality free agent starter, Kevin Millwood, who led the American League in ERA.

Their outfield, a blend of power, speed, and solid defense is set. Their infield returns intact, but players may be shifting positions. Second baseman Jorge Cantu led the team in home runs (28) and runs batted in (117) but might move to third with Julio Lugo (39 stolen bases) heading to second to open up a position for talented shortstop, B.J. Upton. He has remained in the minors because he makes errors at an alarming rate. Moving Upton to the outfield where his deficiencies on defense will be minimized makes sense.

It also would give the Devil Rays options. They could trade one of their infielders, outfielders, or possibly outfielder/infielder Aubrey Huff for pitching.

Depending on whom the Devil Rays hire as their next General Manager, they might just be Macha’s best bet. Contracts of two prominent GM’s are up: the Yankees’ Brian Cashman and the Red Sox Theo Epstein. Epstein will likely stay in Boston. And even if he moved on, as a Sandy Alderson and Billy Beane disciple an Epstein-Macha partnership would not be a good fit. But Brian Cashman—that’s another story. If he leaves the Yankees; takes a position with the Devil Rays; and is interested in Macha, that might be a marriage made in heaven.

Bruce Grimes, Bay Area Baseball writer.

0 comments

1 pachyderm { 10.14.05 at 3:43 pm }

Sorry Bruce, it’s offical Macha is back in Oakland. Beane and the A’s have agree to a three year deal with Ken Macha. Maybe Wash could get the D’Rays job, which Mychael Urban predicted.

Edgar Martinez, A’s Fan

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