Newly retired Beltran won't 'rule out' interviewing for Yankees manager

Carlos Beltran's playing career has come to an end - but that doesn't mean he's planning to sit around at home in 2018.

After announcing his retirement Monday, Beltran immediately expressed interest in returning to the dugout as a manager - and specifically, with one of his old teams. The 40-year-old said he'd be interested in interviewing for the New York Yankees' managerial vacancy if given the opportunity.

"I personally think that's a great job; a position with an incredible impact," Beltran said, according to ESPN's Marly Rivera. "... You never know, there are opportunities that God gives us, and if I get an opportunity (to interview) I will not rule it out."

While he's never managed, Beltran would be no stranger to the intensity and spotlight of New York City. He spent two-plus seasons with the Yankees from 2014-16, and had a seven-year run with the crosstown Mets - experience he recognizes could benefit him if he got the chance to manage a young team of stars in a big city like New York.

"At some point in my career, I would love to have the opportunity to manage," Beltran told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com on Monday. "With the experience that I have in the game of baseball, the times I've played, different teams that I've played for, I've gotten to see different ways to do things in the clubhouse and for the players. How to motivate them, how to impact them in a way where they continue to improve. I would love that opportunity, for sure.

"Not taking anything away from any other organization, but the Yankees are a team that anyone would love to put on that uniform and manage that ballclub."

Regarding Beltran's interest in the Yankees job, general manager Brian Cashman said he's "aware of his interest in managing in the future, and I'll leave it at that right now," per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

Multiple candidates have been mentioned to replace Joe Girardi, including former players Jerry Hairston Jr. and Aaron Boone; longtime Yankees coach Rob Thomson and onetime Cleveland Indians skipper Eric Wedge have already been interviewed.

Boone and Hensley Meulens - the San Francisco Giants' bench coach and longtime manager of the Netherlands World Baseball Classic squad - will reportedly be interviewed by Cashman after the GM meetings, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.