5 managers the Cincinnati Reds can hire to fix their mess

4. Ron Washington

Washington is in his second season as third base coach for the Atlanta Braves, and prior to that he had a two-year stint back with the Oakland A’s as coach. From 1997-2006, he was infield and third base coach for Oakland.

Washington had a mostly very good run as manager of the Texas Rangers from 2007-2014, with four 90-win seasons, a .521 overall regular season winning percentage and two World Series appearances. But he resigned in September of 2014, as he admitted to having an extramarital affair and the Rangers squashed rumors that his past drug use was any sort of factor. It’s easy to see those issues as reasons not to hire him as a manager, but Washington used the familiar spot in Oakland to re-establish his coaching career.

Washington was a reportedly finalist for the Braves’ job after the 2016 season. But they decided to retain Brian Snitker, and of course Washington then joined his coaching staff.

Washington’s personal issues seem to be behind him. So his candidacy for a second chance as a manager should be advancing, and the Reds can be at the front of the line to interview him after the season if they want to.