Despite taking part in Houston Astros’ signal-stealing scheme during the 2017 season and being fired from their respective jobs as a result, AJ Hinch and Alex Cora still remain candidates for managerial openings in Major League Baseball.
Speaking with reporters about Detroit Tigers’ search for a new manager, the team’s general manager Al Avila confirmed that both Hinch and Cora are in consideration for the post.
“I have them on my list,” said Avila.
Still, Avila expects a lengthy process, which will include interviews with a long list of candidates, before Tigers fill out the vacancy.
“Right now, we’re not in a rush,” he added.
Tigers found themselves in need of a new manager after Ron Gardenhire abruptly retired from baseball last month in order to focus on his health. Gardenhire was with the Tigers since 2018 but failed to lead the team to playoffs during his tenure.
If Tigers decide to give AJ Hinch a shot, they would have to wait until January to make the hiring official. For his role in 2017’s signal-stealing scandal, Hinch was fired by Astros and suspended from the league until the end of 2020.
Alex Cora, who served as a coach under Hinch, didn’t receive a suspension but was also fired as a Boston Red Sox manager once the signal-stealing scheme was discovered.
