The wide net that the Astros have cast in their search for a new manager has added another to the list of candidates to interview for the job. Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reported late Sunday that former big league player and current quality control coach for the Oakland A's, Mark Kotsay, interviewed for the job last week. The interview of Kotsay brings the list to nine guys that have now interviewed for the job. The other eight to have interviewed for the opening to this point include Joe Espada, Dusty Baker, Buck Showalter, Will Venable, John Gibbons, Eduardo Perez, Jeff Banister and Brad Ausmus.
A 17 year MLB vet, Kotsay has been in coaching since the 2015 season. In 2015 he served as the hitting coach for the San Diego Padres, joining the Oakland A's after that 2015 season, the organization he has spent the last four seasons. In 2016, his first year in Oakland, Kotsay served as their bench coach, moving to his current role as a quality control coach starting in the 2017 season. Over his 17 big league seasons, Kotsay played for 7 teams including the Oakland A's, San Diego Padres, Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers. His longest stint as player with one team came with the Padres in two seperate stints between 2001-2003 and the last two seasons of his big league career between 2012-2013. During his 17 year career, Kotsay was a .276 hitter with 127 home runs and 720 runs batted in. In 2004, Kotsay enjoyed his best season of his career while with the Oakland A's, hitting .314 that year, finishing 14th in the AL MVP vote that season.
While it is not known what Kotsay's chances are of landing the Astros opening, it brings a clearer picture to who the mystery candidates we have heard about might be. The Astros have said they are hopeful to have a decision made on their next manager by the 3rd of February.