The Padres have a new manager

Yesterday, the Union-Tribune reported that A.J. Preller had narrowed down his choice to replace Bud Black to former Twins manager Ron Gardenhire or Pirates third base coach Rick Sofield. Both had two interviews with the team, and Scott Miller said last night that Sofield was looking likely.

Pirates 3B coach Rick Sofield is emerging as the favorite to land the #Padres manager job.

— Scott Miller (@ScottMillerBbl) October 29, 2015

It made enough sense. Both are 58 years old with plenty of experience, and neither hire would have been a surprise. But Preller loves surprises, so Scott Miller dropped a new name this morning.

Andy Green will be named as the next manager of the #Padres later today. Sources.

— Scott Miller (@ScottMillerBbl) October 29, 2015

Google tells me that Green (who is 20 years younger than Gardenhire and Sofield) played three years and change of slightly-below-replacement-value baseball, mostly with the Diamondbacks. He's spent the last several years working his way through Arizona's minor league coaching ranks. In 2012 he led the rookie ball Missoula Osprey to a Pioneer League championship, after which he was promoted to manage the AA Mobile BayBears. In his first two seasons with the team, he was named Southern League Manager of the Year both times. Last year he joined the big league club as third base coach.

The Padres will be holding a press conference to introduce Green at 3 PM today, and you can watch it live on Fox Sports San Diego.