Bobby Cox says although he would love to work with Paul Beeston, he’s not coming out of retirement to manage the Toronto Blue Jays.
On Wednesday, Jon Morosi of Foxsports.com reported that prior to Tuesday’s blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins, the Blue Jays had approached the 71-year-old Cox about their vacant managerial opening.
Cox’s answer, according to Morosi, was no thanks.
In his story, Morosi wondered whether Cox might reconsider now that the Blue Jays have added Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle and John Buck.
On Wednesday, Cox wasted litttle time providing answer.
“I’m retired,” Cox told Mark Bowman of MLB.com Wednesday morning. “I really don’t know what else to say.”
The 71-year-old Cox retired in 2010 after managing the Atlanta Braves to 14 NL East titles and the 1995 World Series title.
He managed the Blue Jays for four seasons in the 1980s including the 1985 AL East champion team that won a team record 99 regular season games.
Since leaving the Blue Jays following the 1985 season to take over as GM of the Braves, Cox has remained close friends with Blue Jays president and CEO Paul Beeston and team consultant Cito Gaston.
“There is not another guy in the world I’d like to work for more than Beeston,” Cox said, adding he first learned of the blockbuster trade Wednesday morning. “But that is not going to bring me out of retirement. I’m retired and I’m happy here in Atlanta.”
