MLB Rumors: Latest Rumblings Surrounding Team Coaching Staffs

While four teams are still going strong in an attempt to realize their ultimate goal and win the World Series, 26 other clubs haven't played baseball since the end of September. That doesn't mean they haven't been busy.

Player movement doesn't start until after the Fall Classic concludes, but coaching changes often happen now in an effort to establish new personnel prior to signing or trading for players who fit the coaching staff's style of play.

The rumor mill has focused on some big-name coaches of late, mostly because of the sheer number of vacancies in the league. Expect those openings to be filled shortly.

Below are the latest rumors surrounding a few of the most noteworthy names in play.

Texas Rangers: And Then There Were 3

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Ron Washington's shocking resignation late in the season left the Texas Rangers without someone at the helm. Tim Bogar, the bench coach, stepped up as interim manager. He led the team to a 14-8 record in 22 games.

MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports that Bogar is a finalist for the manager's job, alongside Pittsburgh Pirates bench coach Jeff Banister and Cleveland Indians bullpen coach Kevin Cash.

Bogar was also a candidate for the opening with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but that was before the team hired Chip Hale. Bogar appears the likely choice to assume the manager's role next season, especially considering how well the team's young players performed under him in the final 22 games of the season.

That said, the other candidates are highly regarded.

Banister has been a member of the Pirates organization for 29 years. He has been the No. 2 guy on the Pirates bench alongside manager Clint Hurdle and is considered partially responsible for the team's turnaround over the past four seasons.

His experience next to Hurdle on the bench works in his favor.

Cash is a newcomer to coaching, as the 36-year-old just wrapped up his playing career in 2011. He'll be 37 on Opening Day, and he would be the youngest manager in baseball if hired.

Former catchers are often considered some of the best managers due to their understanding of the intricacies of the game, so he certainly shouldn't be overlooked.

Kevin Long: Hitting Coach Drawing Interest

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The former New York Yankees hitting coach was a big reason why Curtis Granderson turned into a power hitter when he came to the Yankees. He has a knack for fixing glaring mechanical flaws and making an impact on hitters.

That said, Long was thought to be a major reason why the Yankees struggled to plate runs last season.

The hitting was certainly at fault in 2014. Sure, injuries didn't help, but the pitching ended up performing just fine. As a result, Long was fired earlier in the week.

Despite his standing among Yankees fans, Long has already drawn interest from a bevy of clubs, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News:

Of the teams listed by Feinsand, the Boston Red Sox and the Pirates are the most likely. Pittsburgh continues to improve and has a solid crop of young hitters for Long to work with. Of course, having a perennial MVP candidate in Andrew McCutchen should also pique Long's interest.

The Red Sox are also intriguing, if only for the sheer number of bounce-back candidates on the roster. Allen Craig had a miserable year. Yoenis Cespedes stands to improve. Heck, even Dustin Pedroia wasn't at his best.

Moving from the Bronx to Boston would be a major shift in ideals, though the rivalry has fizzled out in recent years.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Don Mattingly Likely Staying Put

The Los Angeles Dodgers made a huge move Tuesday, as they brought in Andrew Friedman, the former general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, to be their president of baseball operations.

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal first broke the news, and the team's official twitter account confirmed it.

Following the Dodgers' premature exit from the 2014 playoffs, fans and analysts alike were calling for the dismissal of manager Don Mattingly. ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted that now would be the perfect opportunity to do so:

While bringing in Joe Maddon appeared to be an attractive option for the Dodgers, the notion lasted for only a few minutes. Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times quickly added something crucial to the conversation:

Much of the flak Mattingly received came late in the season. His inability to handle a bullpen has made headlines, but the failures of his relievers aren't entirely his fault. For all the money they're paid, a majority of his arms don't get the job done.

Perhaps Friedman, one of the best baseball minds in the game, can make some much-needed repairs to the unit.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @KennyDeJohn_BR