Red Sox bench coach Ramón Vázquez interviewed with the Twins for their managerial opening in recent weeks but appears to have been eliminated from consideration before the final round.
Vázquez was among the candidates who “didn’t advance in the process” as Minnesota whittled down its pool of options late last week, according to The Athletic’s Dan Hayes and Britt Ghiroli. Still in the running are ex-Pirates manager Derek Shelton, Yankees hitting coach James Rowson, ex-Mariners manager Scott Servais and Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty.
The Red Sox granted Vázquez permission to interview with Minnesota, which dismissed Rocco Baldelli as manager, in mid-October. It was the first such managerial interview in Vázquez’s career. As of late last week, no other clubs — including the Nationals, who are now run by former Red Sox assistant general manager Paul Toboni — had asked for permission to talk to Vázquez or any other Red Sox assistant coaches. Barring an unforeseen development, top Cora lieutenants like Vázquez, Jason Varitek and others will stay put and return to their roles in 2026. There are still six openings — in San Diego, Minnesota, Atlanta, Colorado, Washington and Baltimore — after the Giants hired Tony Vitello, the Angels hired Kurt Suzuki and the Rangers promoted Skip Schumaker.
Vázquez, 49, has been on the Red Sox’ staff for eight seasons and has spent the last three as the bench coach for Cora, a close friend. Vázquez was a major league coach (while working with infielders) from 2018-2020, then moved to first base coach for the 2021 season. He replaced Will Venable as Cora’s top lieutenant in November 2022. Vázquez managed the Red Sox on May 19 while Cora was attending his daughter Camila’s graduation from Boston College. He’s an accomplished winter ball manager who has won four titles in Puerto Rico.
With Varitek finalizing a multi-year deal to return as the team’s game-planning and run-prevention coach, the Red Sox could soon announce their 2026 coaching staff under Cora. While virtually everyone is returning to the same positions they had in 2025, there is one change with John Soteropulos, formerly the club’s hitting coordinator, replacing Ben Rosenthal as an assistant hitting coach on staff.
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