Mariners Interviewed Ron Wotus On Friday

July 7, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; San Francisco Giants bench coach Ron Wotus (23) at the batting cage before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Long-time San Francisco bench coach Ron Wotus is the latest name to become known as having interviewed with Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik for the open managerial position according to Greg Johns’s blog.

Wotus has been in the Giants organization the past 25 years, including the last 15 in San Francisco. He joined the Giants staff in 1998 as Dusty Baker’s third-base coach moving to bench coach in 1999. He has been there ever since, winning the World Series in 2010 and 2012.

Wotus is the fourth name to pop up in Zduriencik’s search to replace Eric Wedge, who abruptly stepped down after his third season as M’ skipper. As we have been reporting, A’s bench coach Chip Hale and Padres bench coach Rick Renteria are known to be among those who also interviewed last week. Tigers hitting coach and former Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon will also interview this week.

The Mariners are one of only three teams still looking for a manager, along with the Tigers and Cubs. The Reds already promoted (my first choice) pitching coach Bryan Price and the Nationals allegedly have reached an agreement with Diamondbacks third-base coach Matt Williams.

Teams are discouraged from announcing managerial hires during the World Series, so no further announcements are expected until the Fall Classic is over later this week. Also, coaches from the Red Sox and Cardinals’ respective staffs are likely to be interviewed as well.