Will Venable Turns Down Big Manager Opening to Stay With Texas Rangers

The New York Mets are the latest team with a managerial opening to express interest in Texas Rangers associate manager Will Venable.

Texas Rangers associate manager Will Venable has reportedly turned down another chance to potentially run another MLB team.

And this was a big-time job.

Venable, in his first season with the Rangers on manager Bruce Bochy’s staff, declined a request from the New York Mets to interview for their opening, according to the New York Post. The Mets are in the market for a manager after parting ways with Buck Showalter, who also managed Texas from 2003-06.

The Mets sought permission to interview Will Venable for their managerial opening, but the Rangers’ associate manager declined the request due to his comfort in his current situation.” – New York Post.

Venable confirmed that report.

“I talked to them very briefly, but that was at the point where I already had made the decision that I was staying here,” he told the newspaper before the Rangers dropped Game 5 of the American League Championship Series to the Houston Astros.

Venable, 40, was recently reported to be leading candidate for the Cleveland Guardians opening, but has told teams that he wants to remain with Texas.

Venable has been in MLB coaching since 2018, spending three seasons with the Chicago Cubs. He joined the Red Sox in 2021, where he spent two seasons. He managed six games in place of Joey Cora after he tested positive for COVID-19 in 2022. Venable went 1-5 as interim manager.

Before he went into coaching, he played for three different teams — San Diego Padres, Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers — from 2008-16. The outfielder batted .249 with 81 home runs and 307 RBI.

The Rangers trail Houston 3-2 in the best-of-seven ALCS going into Game 6 on Sunday night in Houston.

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