The Padres reached way back when conducting what may have been their first managerial interview last week.
A source confirmed Tuesday the team interviewed former White Sox and Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen, who has not managed since 2012.
The interview took place before the team spoke with Luis Rojas, who managed the Mets from 2020-21, and Mike Shildt, who managed the Cardinals from the middle of the 2018 through the end of '21.
Team officials are not commenting on the manager search, as the team works to replace the fired Jayce Tingler, and no other interviews have become public.
One thing several sources have said is the team is looking for a strong Latin American influence on the coaching staff. Preferably, one source said, that would be a Dominican coach or manager who can easily connect with Fernando Tatis Jr. and others. Rojas is from the Dominican Republic and is familiar to Tatis. Guillen is from Venezuela.
Guillen, 57, has a history of success and controversy.
He played 16 seasons in the majors, mostly at shortstop. He was originally signed by the Padres in 1980 and traded to the White Sox in 1984 while in Triple-A.
Guillen managed the White Sox from 2004 to '11, leading them to a World Series title in '05. He was 678-617 (.524) as Chicago's manager, and the White Sox went to the postseason twice in his eight seasons, which included a 2006 controversy over his referring to a newspaper columnist using a homophobic slur.
Guillen was allowed to leave to manage the Marlins in 2012 but lasted only one season, in part due to a disappointing 69-93 record and in part due to the residue of his having praised former Cuban president Fidel Castro, which caused an uproar in heavily Cuban Miami. Guillen was suspended five games by the Marlins.
He has since worked in television for ESPN Deportes and on White Sox broadcasts.
