Cincinnati Reds fire Bryan Price: Is Barry Larkin on deck?

Jim Riggleman was named interim manager, but the team announced it will conduct a national search.

RELATED: GM says team couldn’t afford to wait | 5 things to know about Riggleman

Barry Larkin already works for the team, but he’s been talked about as a potential manager since he was still playing shortstop for his hometown team, a career that lasted from 1986-2004.

He made waves during spring training when he said some young guys in the organization told him they want him to be their manager when they reach the big leagues, a statement that rankled at least some in the organization according to national baseball writer Ken Rosenthal.

He has mentioned that before in his reporting, and it doesn’t come as a surprise.

However much one might be excited to think of Larkin in the Reds dugout again, his statement was disrespectful to Price.

RELATED: Larkin muses about managing Reds some day

It was great for debate and discussion (including here) but also bad form.

Would any hurt feelings from that episode prevent Larkin from becoming the manager of the Reds if the organization deems him the best candidate?

That hardly seems likely.

» HISTORY LESSON: Rare for Reds to fire a coach this early in season

Of larger concern would be his relative lack of experience.

Larkin has not managed in MLB or the minors, though he has been the skipper of the Brazilian national team.

He’s also been an employee of the Reds since 2015 after working as a baseball analyst for ESPN.

Beyond that, hiring former players with little or no managerial experience is becoming a trend. The Cardinals made a similar move with Mike Matheny, as did the Brewers with Craig Counsell and the Phillies with Gabe Kapler more recently.

Former Red Aaron Boone, who played with Larkin from 1997-2003, left ESPN to become the Yankees manager prior to this season.