The A's have granted permission to the Seattle Mariners to speak with hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo about becoming Seattle's new bench coach.
This comes just one week after the Mariners plucked A's bench coach Don Wakamatsu to be their new manager, and Van Burkleo said Tuesday that he's intrigued by the idea of joining Wakamatsu in the Northwest. No interview had been scheduled as of Tuesday afternoon. And though Van Burkleo has spoken with Wakamatsu since the A's granted permission, he said he hadn't talked to anyone else in the Mariners organization.
Van Burkleo and Wakamatsu are tight, having coached together in the Los Angeles Angels' organization before reuniting on Oakland's staff.
Van Burkleo has worked with hitters for most of his professional coaching career, so the chance to branch out and serve as a bench coach appeals to him. But he makes his home in Grass Valley and is hesitant to uproot his family.
"I wouldn't say I'm guaranteed of going up there, but I'm interested in talking to them," he said. "It's a tough decision. I'm calling people and asking them their opinions about the job."
One of the people he consulted Tuesday was A's manager Bob Geren, who might have two crucial posts to fill on his staff. The A's are in the early stages of sorting out bench coach candidates to replace Wakamatsu, who held the position just one season.
"We talked as friends about what would be the best move," Van Burkleo said of his chat with Geren.
It's possible Geren could offer Van Burkleo the A's bench coach spot and focus on finding a new hitting coach.
