Texas Rangers

AP sources: Rangers interview 2 more manager candidates

Published Oct. 16, 2018 7:39 p.m. ET

Rangers bench coach Don Wakamatsu has interviewed for the vacant Texas manager's spot that he filled in an interim role for the final 10 games of the season.

According to people familiar with the details, the Rangers interviewed Wakamatsu and Philadelphia Phillies third base coach Dusty Wathan on Tuesday in Arlington. The team isn't making public comments about the initial round of interviews.

With Wakamatsu and Wathan added to the list, the Rangers have conducted eight known interviews in an eight-day span in their search to replace Jeff Banister.

Wakamatsu rejoined the Rangers last November after four seasons as the bench coach in Kansas City. He previously served on the Rangers staff from 2003-07 and was a candidate for the manager's post when Ron Washington was hired after the 2006 season to replace Buck Showalter.

Until Wakamatsu, who was 127-147 as Seattle's manager in 2009 and until August 2010, former New York Yankees and Florida Marlins manager Joe Girardi had been the only candidate interviewed by the Rangers with major league managerial experience.

Banister was fired Sept. 21 with 10 games left in a 95-game loss season for the Rangers, who focused on the development of younger players. They were 3-7 those last 10 games.