Price is right in Cincinnati

Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - The Cincinnati Reds have named Bryan Price their new manager.

Price had been the team's pitching coach for the past four seasons and will be a manager for the first time. He will join San Diego's Bud Black and Boston's John Farrell as the only former pitching coaches as current big league managers.

"I couldn't be happier to be the next manager of the Cincinnati Reds," said Price. "It's been a heck of a ride to this point."

The Reds needed a new manager after Dusty Baker was dismissed following the club's loss to Pittsburgh in the NL wild card game.

"I have spent a lot of time with Bryan since the season ended, and I was convinced after the first meeting he is the right person to help us move this organization forward," said Reds general manager Walt Jocketty in a statement Tuesday. "We've all seen him work here with our pitching staff. He has proven himself to be an excellent communicator and leader, and clearly is one of the most respected people not only in our clubhouse but in baseball in general."

Price has helped develop a Cincinnati pitching staff that had the fourth-best ERA in the majors this past season. He never pitched in the majors and had previous coaching stints with Seattle and Arizona before joining the Reds in 2010.

"I am impressed with Bryan as a pitching coach, leader and person," said Reds CEO Bob Castellini. "We're very confident he'll take the helm as manager of the entire team and lead us in the right direction."

Former big league skipper Jim Riggleman was also under consideration for the position. Riggleman was the manager of the Reds' Triple-A team in Louisville.

The Reds reached the playoffs three times in the last four seasons under Baker, who had a record of 509-463 in six years at the helm. However, Cincinnati failed to win a playoff series after winning division titles in 2010 and 2012 before this season's one-game playoff loss to the Pirates.