Because of Boston's success, MLB teams have been taking note of the Sox coaches that have been able to produce winning teams year in and year out. On Monday, the Red Sox announced that bench coach Brad Mills and first base coach Tim Bogar have both been granted permission by the Red Sox to interview for the Astros managerial job.
"There's a number of candidates and we're proud that those two will be amongst the group to be interviewed," general manager Theo Epstein told ESPN.com. "We wish them the best of luck."
Mills has ties with Houston's general manager Ed Wade. The two worked together in Philadelphia in the late 1990's when Mills was the Phillies' bench coach. Bogar played infield for the Astros and managed one of Houston's Single-A teams in his coaching-debut season in 2004.
Mills just completed his sixth season as Terry Francona's bench coach. The 52-year-old interviewed with the Seattle Mariners last offseason when the M's were in search of a manager but the AL west team went with Don Wakamatsu instead.
"I'm excited about it," Mills said. "I would love the opportunity [to manage]. At the same time I've got a good job and I want to do this job to the best of my ability. I'm not the manager, I'm the bench coach, so I want to be the best bench coach I can."
Both coaches are still under contract with the Sox and will be back with the team in 2010 should they not take the Houston job.
