ST. PETERSBURG — Specific candidates have emerged in Clint Hurdle’s search to fill out his Rockies’ coaching staff.
Former Dodgers and Pirates manager Jim Tracy interviewed this week for the position of bench coach, according to a major-league source, while Triple-A manager Tom Runnells confirmed Wednesday that he will interview for multiple Rockies’ vacancies on Nov. 7. The third base, hitting instructor, bench and bullpen coach positions are all open.
“It wouldn’t matter to me. It would just be a great opportunity to get back to the big leagues,” said Runnells, who once managed the Montreal Expos. “I would enjoy working with Clint and (general manager) Dan (O’Dowd). There are a lot of good baseball men looking for work, so I am very thankful to have this opportunity.”
Tracy, Runnells, Don Baylor, John McLaren, Willie Randolph and Davey Johnson have been mentioned as bench coach candidates. Hurdle has said he wants a former big league manager as his bench coach.
Greg Colbrunn, a former Rockie and the Yankees’ Class-A hitting coach the past two seasons, is considered a strong candidate for the hitting instructor job depending on what shakes out with Runnells.
Jim Wright, the organization’s roving pitching instructor, has interviewed for the bullpen coach job. O’Dowd said this week that there is no urgency to the coaching search.
Former Rockies’ third base coach Mike Gallego landed the same position with Oakland on Wednesday. Alan Cockrell, the previous hitting instructor, is weighing at least one strong minor-league managerial offer.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
