The Padres’ manager search continues this weekend, with the team interviewing Yankees bench coach Carlos Medoza.
The 43-year-old Mendoza will be the fourth candidate interviewed as the Padres look to replace Bob Melvin, who departed last week to become manager of the Giants.
Internal candidates Mike Shildt and Ryan Flaherty are still considered the favorites, but sources said President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller and others involved in the process were impressed by their time with Angels coach Benji Gil earlier this week. Gil is a Tijuana native who attended Castle Park High School in Chula Vista.
Mendoza, who was born in Venezuela and played 13 minor-league seasons, has been with the Yankees since 2017. He was named bench coach before the 2020 season. Mendoza has interviewed with the Mets and Guardians for their managerial openings this offseason.
Several sources have said the Padres’ process is fluid and there is not a definite number of interviews yet to conduct. One person said it was unlikely there would be more than a couple people brought in beyond the interview with Mendoza. Those sources have indicated a new manager could be announced by next week.
Melvin was introduced by the Giants on Oct. 25. That day, Shildt began the interview process. A manager of the Cardinals from 2018-21, Schildt, 55, spent the last two seasons working as a Padres adviser in baseball operations. He also filled in on the major-league staff.
Flaherty, who interviewed last week, has been a Padres coach since 2020. A former big-league infielder, the 37-year-old Flaherty played alongside Manny Machado with the Orioles.
The 51-year-old Gil managed Mexico to the World Baseball Classic semifinals this year. Gil managed the Tomateros de Culiacan to Mexican Pacific League championships during the 2014-15, 2017-18, 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. He spent the 2021-22 season managing the Mariachis de Guadalajara, an MPL expansion team. Former Padre Adrian Gonzalez played 42 games under Gil as he trained for the Olympics.
