Elevating Quatraro Made the Most Sense
The Rays didn’t wait long to fill their bench coach spot, and what Kevin Cash decided on was the most logical choice. With former bench coach Charlie Montoyo now managing in Toronto and Rocco Baldelli doing the same in Minnesota, elevating Matt Quatraro was the right fit.
For Kevin Cash, a bench coach has to be someone who can communicate well, can relate to the players, and can see the game well. Quatraro checks all of those boxes. A bench coach also needs to be someone that Cash trusts. Quatraro also fits there, as he worked with Cash in Cleveland and in Tampa Bay. That would allow for a smoother transition.
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While Quatraro doesn’t have the two decades of managerial experience that Charlie Montoyo did, he has a broader base of experiences. Quatraro managed in the minors, and handled numerous roles at the MLB level, all of which should help prepare him for being a bench coach. He’s worked with hitters, coached third and has helped create game plans for the opposing hitters. All of that information gives him a great idea of the Rays personnel and that of other clubs. All of those experiences benefit him as a bench coach.
In addition, the decision probably gives the Rays a larger pool of candidates for the two open coaching spots. Between the two roles, the Rays need a third base coach, more than likely someone who is bilingual, and someone who can work with the infielders. Whether it’s a third base coach and MLB field coordinator or roles that are slightly shifted, there are probably more qualified people to choose from than there would have been in selecting an MLB bench coach.
The decision should allow the Rays to maximize the available candidate pool. My guess is before Thanksgiving we’ll have a good idea as to how all of the pieces fit.
