Former Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach and home-run king Mark McGwire is in discussions with the Padres about becoming their next bench coach, sources told the Union-Tribune.

While nothing has been made official, one source suggested McGwire is a very strong candidate for the job, one that would keep him close to home. McGwire recently was under consideration for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ hitting-coach position, but sources said the Irvine resident pulled himself out of the running.

Though he has never been a bench coach, McGwire, 52, would bring considerable clout to San Diego. Under new manager Andy Green, the Padres recently hired Alan Zinter as hitting coach. Sources said one possible scenario is McGwire assisting both Green and Zinter.

As a prodigious slugger for the St. Louis Cardinals, McGwire launched 70 home runs in 1998 to break baseball’s single-season record. The feat was later sullied when he admitted to using steroids during his career, though it still stands as one of the game’s most memorable achievements.


McGwire came out of seclusion after the 2009 season to become the Cardinals’ hitting coach under his longtime manager, Tony La Russa. McGwire briefly contemplated retirement after the 2012 season before joining the Dodgers, the team he grew up watching.

With McGwire as the hitting coach the last three seasons, the star-powered Dodgers finished fourth, second and second in the National League in on-base plus slugging. The Padres, meanwhile, finished 13th, 15th and 13th.

If hired in San Diego, McGwire would replace Dave Roberts, who spent the last two seasons as the Padres’ bench coach. The two may wind up trading clubs. Roberts is a finalist for the Dodgers’ managerial job, and if he doesn’t land it, he could still be added to that coaching staff.

The Padres initially discussed their bench-coach position with former Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire, who finished as the runner-up to Green. It’s more likely that if Gardenhire were to join the Padres, it would be in a front-office capacity.


Green, who got to know La Russa while working for the D-backs, is close to finalizing his coaching staff. Besides Zinter, the group will include returnees Darren Balsley (pitching) and Glenn Hoffman (third base) and newcomers Tarrik Brock (first base) and Doug Bochtler (bullpen).

The addition of McGwire would serve as an exclamation point.