Padres Bench Coach Mark McGwire Quits After 3 Seasons with Team

Bench coach Mark McGwire is leaving the San Diego Padres to spend more time with his family, according to Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune. 

McGwire has served on manager Andy Green's coaching staff since Dec. 2015. That staff is undergoing major changes this offseason, however, as hitting coach Matt Stairs and infield coach Josh Johnson were both fired earlier in October and McGwire is quitting his post as well.

McGwire, 55, was one of the most feared power hitters of his generation during his playing years, hitting 583 home runs and 1,414 RBI in his career. He was the 1987 American League Rookie of the Year and a 12-time All-Star, most famously surpassing Roger Maris' previous record of 61 homers in a single season by blasting 70 with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1998. 

That record would then be broken by Barry Bonds (73) in 2001.

During his playing career, McGwire played for the Oakland Athletics—forming the famous "Bash Brothers" with fellow slugger Jose Canseco—and the Cardinals. His many achievements earned an asterisk, however, when he admitted to steroid use during his career. That steroid use has also played the major part in McGwire never being inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

After his playing career, McGwire served as the Cardinals hitting coach for three seasons and the Los Angeles Dodgers' hitting coach for another three before joining the Padres.

During his tenure in San Diego, Sanders noted that McGwire "was not only an experienced right-hand man for Green, he was leaned on heavily for his expertise at the plate."

According to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, Triple-A manager Rod Barajas is a "top candidate" to replace McGwire, though "it's unclear who the Padres will call upon to fill his place."

He added that "early indications" suggest the Padres may fill out their coaching staff vacancies with internal candidates.