Report: Padres to interview Rick Sofield

According to a report from MLB Network’s Peter Gammons, the Padres are interviewing Rick Sofield for their managerial opening.

Pirates coach Rick Sofield a hot managerial name. Being interviewed in San Diego

— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) October 12, 2015

Here’s the Post-Gazette breaking news story.

Sofield has minor league managerial experience in the Pirates’ and Expos’ organizations and has coached extensively at the college level.

The Padres’ job is a tough one. They fired interim manager Pat Murphy at the end of the season, after firing well-respected manager Bud Black in June. They were expecting to contend after a series of trades and free-agent signings brought in Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, Will Middlebrooks, Derek Norris, Justin and Melvin Upton Jr., James Shields and Craig Kimbrel, but a poor defensive team with no true shortstop or center fielder struggled.

Players like Sofield, a goofy but intelligent character.