We finally have an interview.
After weeks of silence regarding the Red Sox' search for a new manager, sources confirm an ESPN Deportes report that the Sox are interviewing Arizona bench coach Luis Urueta for the position as their next skipper.
"His communication skills and ability to relate to players are off the charts," said Lovullo by phone Friday.
The 39-year-old Urueta has coached in the Diamondbacks' organization since 2007 after a short-lived professional playing career. He managed his native Colombia to unexpected success in the most recent World Baseball Classic tournaments.
Urueta was promoted to coach on the major league staff under former Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo with the Diamondbacks starting in 2018. He had served as Arizona's seventh coach, not spending time in the dugout but helping monitor in-game decisions for Lovullo along with participating the advance scouting process before being promoted to bench coach this season.
It is the first known interview conducted for Alex Cora's replacement, with the Red Sox prioritizing the research of potential candidates before locking in on finalists for the job. The team still might wait for the ruling from Major League Baseball regarding its investigation into 2018 cheating allegations reported by The Athletic before naming a manager, with sources in baseball believing that decision will likely come down the first week of February.