Hale, who coached for the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox prior to joining the Blue Jays organization in 2013 was reportedly the third external candidate, among five in total, to be interviewed as they seek a replacement for Davey Johnson who retired at the end of the season.
Many are stating that DeMarlo Hale’s interview allowed for the Nationals to fulfill the obligation established by Major League Baseball to interview a minority candidate for a managerial opening; however, that is considered far from the sole reason for seeking him out. Sources acknowledge that the Nationals have admired Hale’s career considering him a viable candidate who impressed Nationals officials during the interview which took place sometime in the last two weeks.
DeMarlo Hale has become quite familiar with the interview process over the past few years. He was considered for Toronto’s managerial opening in 2011, which ultimately went to John Farrell. He was also interviewed by the Seattle Mariners (on multiple occasions), Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox throughout his coaching career.
Hale, 52, managed in the minor leagues for nine seasons and became a major league coach in 2002 spending three years on the Texas Rangers’ staff. He then coached third base for the Red Sox between 2006 through to 2009, where he transitioned to bench coach for two additional seasons. He coached third base for the Baltimore Orioles in 2012 and joined the Blue Jays organization on John Gibbons’ staff in 2013.
If DeMarlo Hale receives the green light with the Nationals, this would be the third loss for Gibbons’ staff this month. Chad Matolla, Toronto’s 2013 hitting coach, was fired after his first year in the big league capacity and Dwayne Murphy confirmed his retirement that same day after his first season as a first base coach with the club prior to being the hitting coach under Cito Gaston and John Farrell.