Marlins view Tony Pena as a “serious” manager candidate

According to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com the Marlins view Tony Pena “as a serious candidate” to become their next manager. Pena was a five-time All-Star as a player and prior to becoming the Yankees’ bench coach he managed the Royals from 2002 to 2005, winning AL manager of the year with an 83-79 record in 2003. He then went 58-104 in 2004 and was fired following an 8-25 start in 2005, finishing his time in Kansas City with a .410 winning percentage. Of course, no one has been able to win in Kansas City for the past 15 years and in fact that flukishly mediocre 2003 is the Royals’ only winning season since 1994. Frisaro speculates that the Marlins’ managerial search will include Pena, Bobby Valentine, and other candidates along with interim manager Edwin Rodriguez and “could last throughout the playoffs” in part because Pena wouldn’t be available until after the Yankees’ season is over.