Former Brewers coach viewed as top managerial option for Red Sox and Phillies' roles

The early-season upheaval of the Boston Red Sox' coaching staff has created quite the stir across Major League Baseball. After the surprising dismissal of manager Alex Cora and five of his coaches, the focus has quickly shifted to what comes next. In the meantime, Chad Tracy, who was managing at Triple-A Worcester just days ago, has stepped in as the interim manager while the organization begins its search for a permanent replacement.

Meanwhile, just moments ago, the Philadelphia Phillies followed the Red Sox' lead and fired manager Rob Thomson, who has been managing their team since June of 2022. Though Thomson led the Phillies to the World Series in his first season as manager and subsequently qualified for every postseason since, the early-season slump that Philadelphia is experiencing was enough for the organization to cut ties with the highly successful skipper.

One name that should sound familiar to Milwaukee Brewers fans is beginning to gain serious traction in the world of managerial candidates: Walker McKinven. He spent time with the Brewers' organization from 2016 to 2024, played a significant role in daily game planning, pitch strategy, and catcher development, and eventually served as the club’s run prevention coordinator. Now, according to Tyler Kepner of The Athletic, McKinven has emerged as a potential candidate to replace Cora, which will presumably put him in the running for the Phillies' job as well this coming offseason.

Currently, McKinven is serving as bench coach for the Chicago White Sox, a role he has held since the start of the 2025 season. Naturally, the next step from bench coach is a managerial position, and given his track record and success, he could be a legitimate option for the Red Sox or Phillies.

Former Brewers coach Walker McKinven could capitalize on Red Sox and Phillies' early-season firings and land a managerial gig

As Breslow and the Boston Red Sox begin their search for the 50th manager in franchise history, one familiar connection could come into play. Breslow may recall McKinven from his time as an executive with the Chicago Cubs, when the two overlapped in the National League Central. While Breslow was helping reshape Chicago following the 2016 World Series, McKinven was ascending within the Brewers' organization, and during his tenure, the club captured four division titles.

That shared history, McKinven’s role in building consistent success in Milwaukee, and climbing the ladder to bench coach, only strengthens his case as a serious contender. Known for his analytical approach and ability to connect with players, McKinven fits the mold of the modern manager front offices covet, despite only being 37 years old.

However, the average age of MLB managers is decreasing. Take for example, the nine managers who were hired this past offseason. Their average age is just 47, and the youngest of the group, Washington Nationals' manager Blake Butera, is just 33 years old. Whereas in seasons past, teams seemed to prioritize the experience that comes with an older manager, now the focus appear to have shifted to someone whose managerial style the organization can help shape. Such a change could work in McKinven's favor.

It will be interesting to see how things unfold in Boston and Philadelphia, but one advantage of making such sweeping changes this early is the flexibility to explore a wide range of candidates. Notably, Kepner also identified Spencer Allen, the Brewers' current first-base coach, as another potential option.

League executives had previously expressed confidence in Allen's ability to thrive in a managerial role during speculation earlier this offseason, further adding to Boston and Philadelphia's growing list of intriguing possibilities with ties to the Brewers.

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