Report: Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux ‘very interested’ in Astros

Mike Maddux (Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)

After firing Bo Porter last week, Houston Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said he would use the last month of the season to evaluate and interview potential replacement candidates.

Earlier today, Greg wrote about one of the top names already being mentioned for Houston: Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Dave Martinez. Now, it appears we can add another name to that list: Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux.

Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News is reporting Maddux is “very interested” in talking to the Astros about their opening at manager. The 53-year-old has been with the Rangers for six seasons, but his contract expires after this year and he believes he is ready to make the jump to manager.

"“Under Maddux, the Rangers have posted the five lowest-season ERAs in the 20-year history of Globe Life Ballpark. The situation, however, has become complicated in the last week. Much more so. For Maddux. And the Rangers,” Grant wrote. “Maddux, who previously interviewed for managerial jobs with the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox, acknowledged Thursday that he would be “very interested” in talking to the Astros about their position. It’s an about-face for Maddux. He declined to interview for the Astros job two years ago when Porter was eventually hired.”"

Grant also says that with Nolan Ryan on the Astros’ unofficial search committee, Maddux won’t be the only member of the Rangers organization that Houston will take a long look at. Bench coach Tim Bogar, who interviewed twice with Houston before Porter was hired, and Rangers Triple-A manager Steve Buechele will both likely get strong endorsements for interviews and figure to be major candidates.

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Maddux is an interesting one because the Astros already have a good pitching coach in Brent Strom, who I think the team wants to keep on staff next season. As for Bogar, I believe he will definitely get another interview with Houston and should be considered one of the top candidates. I’m usually not a fan of hiring coaches from losing teams, but the Rangers have had plenty of success with this staff in the past and these guys have shown they know how to win.

What do you think of Maddux, Bogar, and/or Buechele as possible candidates for the Astros?