Tampa Bay Devil Rays Fire Manager, Put Bulls’ Evers On Short List of Candidates

Durham Bulls Manager Bill Evers may be considered for the top job for the Devil Rays.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays are looking for a new manager, and Durham Bulls’ manager Bill Evers, head of the Rays Triple-A affiliate, is on the list of potential candidates. Devil Rays General Manager Chuck Lamar expects to name a new manager within four weeks and will officially begin a search today, Monday, October 7, 2002, by asking permission to arrange interviews with the major league coaches on his list.

The Devil Rays will be replacing Hal McRae, who they have retained as special assistant to Lamar. McRae had a 113-196 record after a little under two seasons with the major league club, himself a bench coach who moved up into the manager position in April 2001.

Lamar will be considering hiring from within the Devil Rays organization, possibly looking at Evers, Rays third base coach Tom Foley and bench coach Billy Hatcher. Lamar has also listed several major league coaches and former managers, including Seattle Mariner manager Lou Piniella. Five other teams are looking for new managers so far and vying for the top candidates. .