Toronto Blue Jays narrowing down candidates for manager job

The Toronto Blue Jays are taking the next step in their search for their next manager with candidates being invited for interviews.

It has been quiet for the Toronto Blue Jays despite the team needing to fill their manager position but it looks like the team is narrowing down their list of candidates.

Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reported that the team is inviting people for interviews headlined by Joe Espada who is the current bench coach of the Houston Astros. Espada along with Rocco Baldelli and Brandon Hyde are expected to be in Toronto to meet with Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins.

In his article, Davidi notes that the front office is impressed with the way the Astros and Tampa Bay Rays have made strides which is why they appear to be interested in Espada and Baldelli.

Now there isn’t a rush to hire a manager but with the Los Angeles Angels hiring Brad Ausmus and the Cincinnati Reds grabbing David Bell (who was apparently a candidate for the Blue Jays) the Blue Jays should continue to be proactive. There are three other teams still looking to fill their manager jobs which means that time isn’t exactly on their side.

At the end of the season, Atkins made it a point to give his vision of what the Blue Jays will want in their next manager.

"“Tough, smart and passionate,” Atkins told reporters. “Those are the overarching themes as I think about what it means to lead an environment in here to sustain championship-level expectations, understanding what it takes for communication to keep not just 25-man roster, but also the 40-man roster, the 200 minor-league players, the 100-plus scouts, the 100-plus coaches and medical staff people pulling in one direction and feeling connected. That person has to be an organizational leader and spokesperson, not just a leader of the 25-man clubhouse.”"

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Now the Blue Jays priority as an organization has shifted from bringing in veteran players to developing young players. This was evident with the number of players called up from Triple-A Buffalo and having an immediate impact.

The next manager will probably be someone with a strong background in player development or minor league coaching. Whether that’s a priority remains to be seen but having the right experience and track record will be equally important.

At the same time, the Blue Jays won’t be big spenders in free agency considering they’re not in a contending position and they could explore trades from the major league roster like Aaron Sanchez, or Marcus Stroman who could be targeted by teams.

What do you think about the Blue Jays search for a manager? Is there anything else they need to prioritize this summer? Let us know in the comments below.