UPDATE: San Diego also plans on interviewing Phil Nevin and Alex Cora.

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A number of candidates have been linked to the San Diego Padres' manager job, but the team is now taking a step forward as they narrow down the field. The latest rumors indicate the Padres have three interviews lined up.

The newest candidate to enter the discussion is former Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, according to Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Gardenhire, 57, spent 13 seasons as manager of the Twins and compiled a 1,068-1,039 record, but finished 6-21 in the postseason.

The longtime manager was dismissed after the 2014 season in favor of Paul Molitor. Gardenhire oversaw the Twins for four consecutive 90-plus loss seasons and the team was looking for a change to help lead their new young core. Gardenhire took a year off from the game, but rumors suggested he hired an agent during the season to gauge any potential managerial openings because he wants to return.

Another name that has entered the Padres' manager search is Pittsburgh Pirates third-base coach Rick Sofield. MLB Network's Peter Gammons reported yesterday that Sofield is being interviewed in San Diego, as he's a "hot managerial name."

The 58-year-old Sofield just finished his third season with the Pirates. He was the team's first-base coach in 2013 and 2014 before manager Clint Hurdle promoted him to third-base coach. While he has never been a manager at the MLB level, Sofield does have experience manning a dugout.

"After spending parts of three seasons in the majors, from 1979-81, with the Minnesota Twins, Sofield coached his alma mater, South Carolina, from 1984-86 and Utah from 1987-94," writes Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"He managed in the Montreal Expos minor league system from 1995-97, then became a minor league field coordinator, first with the Expos in 1998, then with the Los Angeles Dodgers and finally with the Pirates in 2002.

"After four years as the head coach of South Carolina-Beaufort, Sofield returned to the Pirates in 2012. He managed the Class A West Virginia Power before joining the major league coaching staff."

Lin also reported last week that the team was set to interview Los Angeles Angels assistant general manager Scott Servais, who had previously worked with Pads GM A.J. Preller when the two were with the Texas Rangers. Servais has no managerial or coaching experience, but he played 11 MLB seasons with the Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies.

"Servais, whose role in Anaheim has focused on player development and amateur player acquisition, is believed to have interest in coaching at the big-league level," Lin wrote. "Prior to his time with Texas, he was a Colorado Rockies professional scout in 2005 and a roving catching instructor for the Chicago Cubs from 2003-04."

Preller is seemingly considering a wide variety of options for the team's next manager as long as they are "open to winning ideas and thoughts" and can "bring more on the relationship, culture side, day-to-day leadership and communication" aspects of the game.

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