Report: Orioles to interview Chip Hale, Brandon Hyde, among others for manager

Two weeks after tabbing Mike Elias as their new general manager, the Baltimore Orioles are finally making reported progress on hiring a manager. Baltimore parted with previous skipper Buck Showalter nearly two months ago, but the slow-moving GM search that eventually led the team to Elias has left it as the majors’ last club without a manager. 

Appointing Showalter’s successor will be one of the first noteworthy decisions Elias makes atop the Orioles’ front office, but given that the O’s are in the early stages of a full rebuild, win-loss record certainly won’t be the main focus when judging their manager in 2019.

Here’s a look at where the Orioles’ search stands thus far:

First-round interviews

• The Orioles will interview at least six candidates in person, including Nationals bench coach Chip Hale and Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. The 54-year-old Hale has previous managerial experience, which the O’s are thought to prefer, according to Rosenthal, though he suggests it isn’t a dealbreaker. A former major league infielder, Hale managed the Diamondbacks to a combined 148-176 mark from 2015 to '16. Hale has since served on the staffs of the A’s and Nats, and he drew managerial interest from the Phillies and Mets a year ago.
• Hyde, 45, was on the radars of the Blue Jays, Twins and Angels when they were seeking managers earlier in the fall. He comes with plenty of coaching experience, having worked as a minor league manager with the Marlins from 2005 to '09 before functioning as their bench coach from 2010 to '12. Hyde has been on the Cubs’ coaching staff since 2013.