Tigers hitting coach Lloyd McClendon has emerged as a candidate to become the Marlins' manager according to CBSSports.com senior baseball writer Danny Knobler.
McClendon, who managed the Pirates from 2001-05, interviewed with Marlins officials on Tuesday, according to Knobler's sources. The Marlins have yet to confirm or deny the report.
The Pirates were 336-446 under McClendon. After winning 75 games under McClendon in 2003 and 72 games in 2004, the Pirates went six years without getting to 70 wins. This season Pittsburgh won 79 games.
McClendon joined Jim Leyland's Tiger staff in 2006 and has played a big part in helping the Tigers to two World Series and three ALCS appearances including coaching triple crown winner Miguel Cabrera. Tigers fans, however, weren't happy with the lack of offense in the World Series.
McClendon, a native of Gary, Indiana, played eight years in the big leagues for the Reds, Cubs and Pirates and finished his career as a .244 hitter with 35 home runs and 154 RBI in 570 games. He played five different positions: catcher, first base, third base, left field and right field in his career and didn't break into the big leagues until he was 28 years old.
Mike Redmond, Larry Bowa and Luis Gonzalez have also been mentioned as candidates for the Marlins job. Redmond is considered the favorite.
