masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgNASHVILLE, Tenn. – While the Orioles decide on their next third base coach, one of their early candidates, Rich Dauer, has taken a job as manager with Double-A San Antonio.

Dauer never heard from the Orioles and yesterday accepted an offer from San Antonio, a San Diego Padres affiliate.

“We’ve been talking for a couple of weeks,” said Dauer, who was dismissed as Rockies third base coach after the season. “Nothing seems to get done real quick. Everybody’s taking their time and I was…NASHVILLE, Tenn. – While the Orioles decide on their next third base coach, one of their early candidates, Rich Dauer, has taken a job as manager with Double-A San Antonio.

Dauer never heard from the Orioles and yesterday accepted an offer from San Antonio, a San Diego Padres affiliate.

“We’ve been talking for a couple of weeks,” said Dauer, who was dismissed as Rockies third base coach after the season. “Nothing seems to get done real quick. Everybody’s taking their time and I was looking for a job. I’ve got to have a job. There aren’t many out there. I’m lucky I got this one.

“If I can’t be a coach in the big leagues, I’ll be a manager in the minors.”

Dauer wasn’t on the Orioles’ short list that manager Buck Showalter discussed with reporters earlier today. I’ve heard that Steve Smith, Showalter’s third base coach in Texas, and Don Wakamatsu remain candidates for the job.

Showalter plans to sit down with executive vice president Dan Duquette at the end of the week and hopefully make a decision.

The Orioles would need an infield instructor if Showalter decides on Wakamatsu, his former bench coach in Texas who also has worked as a roving catching instructor. Mike Bordick and Bobby Dickerson could handle those duties.

Dickerson, the Orioles’ minor league infield coordinator, and Brian Graham, their coordinator of minor league instruction, are two of the in-house candidates to coach third base. However, the Orioles value their work in the minors and are hesitant to remove them.

Five of the six coaches from last year are returning in 2013. DeMarlo Hale accepted a job as the Blue Jays’ bench coach.