The Pittsburgh Pirates managerial search is reaching the final stages.

Out of the mix is third base coach Bo Porter and Atlanta Braves bench coach Carlos Tosca.
An industry source said this afternoon that Tosca is staying put in Atlanta.
The Pirates search is now down to Texas Rangers hitting coach Clint Hurdle and Pirates organizational coach Jeff Banister, who has become a top contender for the job.
The Pirates will meet with Hurdle this week. Hurdle was fired in 2009 by the Colorado Rockies and was replaced by former Pirates skipper Jim Tracy.
Hurdle, 53, went 534-625 in seven years as the Colorado Rockies’ manager. He led the Rockies to the World Series in 2007, when they were swept by the Boston Red Sox.
Banister, according to those close to the Pirates organization, is an exceptional baseball man who the Pirates believe would be a great instructor and mentor to the Pirates young nucleus.
A move to Banister though could be another long line of PR disasters for the Pirates. He will be looked at as another “yes” man and it’s been no secret why there have been leaks throughout the organization as Banister has emerged as a top candidate.

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