A's to hire Geren as manager

Bob Geren will be promoted from bench coach to manager of the Oakland Athletics, ending a monthlong search for Ken Macha's replacement.

Two A's players said Geren called them Thursday after he was hired. The team scheduled a news conference for this afternoon to formally introduce Geren as their new manager. He fills the final managerial vacancy in the major leagues, one month after the A's fired Macha.

Geren was a catcher in the majors for five years.

-- The Associated Press