Leones del Escogido's manager Albert Pujols gestures as he walks towards pitcher's mound. AFP via Getty Images

Albert Pujols had a 9 ½-hour second interview with the Padres, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, which seems like a good sign for him.

But he has competition for Padres manager . Some in the San Diego front office still want Ryan Flaherty, who left the Padres coaching staff to become Craig Counsell’s bench coach on the North Side of Chicago.

Before hiring Blake Butera to manage , the Nationals were believed to be looking closely at Guardians associate manager Craig Albernaz, who chose to go 40 minutes away to Baltimore.

Butera, 33, was a manager and player development director in the Rays minors and fits the Nats’ youth movement.

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