Dave Martinez could emerge as hitting coach candidate in Baltimore

Now that Dave Martinez has informed the Rays that he's leaving the organization, the Orioles may add him to their list of candidates for the job of hitting coach. I was given a "maybe" by someone in the organization this afternoon when I asked about Martinez. The idea wasn't shot down, so Martinez at least will get consideration for an interview. No more interviews are scheduled before the Thanksgiving holiday, but the Orioles want to have Jim Presley's replacement in the fold before the Winter Meetings that start Dec. 8 in San Diego. Presley was reassigned at his request and may stay in the organization in a scouting role. Martinez, like Presley, has one year remaining on his contract. He served as Rays bench coach since 2008, but wasn't included among the finalists for the manager's job after Joe Maddon left for the Cubs. The Rays have narrowed their list of candidates to Kevin Cash, Raul Ibanez and Don Wakamatsu. The Orioles contacted Ibanez to gauge his interest in replacing Presley, but he stated that he'd take a year off from baseball if unable to land the Rays' job. In a statement released today to the media, Martinez said: "I informed the Rays this week that I have chosen to move forward and consider other opportunities that may present themselves outside the organization. It was a hard decision that I think is best for myself and the Rays. I want to thank our fans for their overwhelming support. It has meant the world to my family and me. For the past nine years, the players and staff have been an extension of my family and the memories that we have all shared and the relationships that have been built will stay with me forever. I can't thank them enough for all they have meant to me." Martinez, who could join Maddon in Chicago, was a career .276/.341/.389 hitter in 16 major league seasons spent with nine clubs - including the Cubs twice. Jeff Manto, who interviewed yesterday, is the only internal candidate presently on the Orioles' list. However, they're not done contacting potential replacements. It's a work in progress.