Baltimore Orioles: Manny Machado Wants Buck Showalter In San Diego

Former Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter has been connected to a few teams this offseason. Now, a former player wants him back.

Before the offseason rumor mill gets cranking, winter meeting preparations begin, and Rule 5 draft decisions are made, a number of teams are trying to find a new manager to lead their teams in 2020. Former Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter decided not to manage this season after his departure from the Charm City, but the former O’s skipper has been a hot name early on.

It’s now being reported by ESPN’s Buster Olney that former Orioles infielder Manny Machado wants his new franchise, the San Diego Padres, to consider Showalter for the club’s vacant managerial job.

The Padres are in need of new leadership after the dismissal of Andy Green before the end of the season. Green spent parts of four seasons leading the way in San Diego, compiling a record of 274-366 during his tenure.

With an influx of elite prospects making their way to the major leagues, the addition of Machado, and the emergence of one of the more exciting players in all of baseball in Fernando Tatis Jr. the Padres were expected to make positive strides in 2019.

Unfortunately, as Tatis went down for the year, so did the Padres. The team is expected to be a serious contender for a playoff spot in 2020 and early rumors point to the Padres looking for an experienced manager to take San Diego to the next level.

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Andy Green’s bench coach, Rod Barajas, is a favorite among many fans, due to his ability to connect with many of the Latin American players on the roster and his success as a manager of the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Triple-A affiliate of the Padres. However, his lack of experience may not be what general manager AJ Preller is looking for.

Showalter has also been connected to the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies, should the Phillies decide to part with their current manager, Gabe Kapler. With the marriage of Joe Maddon and the Los Angeles Angels all but official, any team looking for a veteran guy at the helm may pick up the intensity in their pursuit of Showalter.

Showalter was 669-684 (.494 winning percentage) during his eight-plus seasons in Baltimore, leading the Orioles to three playoff appearances and the top record in the American League from 2012-2016, the only winning seasons in the Charm City since 1997.

As a Baltimore Orioles fan who spent the 2018 season covering the Padres and still stays up late to catch most Padres games, I’m all for Buck Showalter becoming the manager in San Diego. It would make cheering for him much easier than if he were to join the Mets or even the Phillies.

What do you think? Will Showalter manage a team in 2020? If so, what uniform do you want to see him put on? Let us know!