After spending three years as the Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach, Mark McGwire is heading down Interstate 5 to become the bench coach for the San Diego Padres.
According to an official team press release, McGwire is joining new Padres manager Andy Green's staff for 2016 along with Alan Zinter, Tarrik Brock, Doug Bochtler and Eddie Rodriguez.
There was increasing chatter that McGwire was going to make the jump to San Diego. Bernie Wilson of the Associated Press, via FoxSports.com, reported the former All-Star was at Petco Park on Tuesday, fraternizing with Padres coaches.
"Various club officials, including new manager Andy Green, declined to confirm Big Mac had been hired," Wilson wrote. "They didn't deny it, either. Green said he has 'nailed down' his staff. Asked if that included McGwire, he repeated that the staff was 'nailed down.'"
McGwire worked with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2013-15 under Don Mattingly as part of three National League West championship teams. The Dodgers and Mattingly parted ways after this year's National League Division Series loss to the New York Mets.
Ironically, McGwire will be taking over the position that Dave Roberts held the previous two years following his departure to replace Mattingly as Dodgers manager.
After retiring in 2001, McGwire has worked his way back into baseball circles after admitting he took performance-enhancing drugs during his playing days. He was the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2010-12 before moving to Los Angeles.
McGwire was one of MLB's most prolific power hitters over the course of his 16-year career, finishing with 583 home runs and a .588 slugging percentage.
He will be facing a tall task working primarily in Petco Park, which is notorious for hampering offense, but Green has apparently seen enough from the 52-year-old to think he can work with a talented roster that needs some grooming before it can become a playoff threat.
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