Eric Chavez is pondering his next move. (Getty Images)

Yankees infielder Eric Chavez, although having a very nifty season in 2012, is likely in the final years of his career. What's next for him? If he has his way, then he'll become a major-league manager one of these days.

As Robin Ventura in Chicago and Mike Matheny in St. Louis are demonstrating this season, one need not follow the usual path of apprenticeship in order to become a successful skipper at the highest level. Chavez certainly has the playing experience, and, to hear his teammates tell it, he's has the other qualities, too. "He'd be a player's manager, 150%," Nick Swisher told Daniel Barbarisi of the Wall Street Journal. "No doubt about it. He knows how tough this game is, and he's a guy who's had ups and downs throughout his whole career."

As for Chavez's current manager, Joe Girardi, he's noticed Chavez's aspirations. "I actually asked him about it one day, because I would watch him on the bench and see him talking to coaches and really paying attention," Girardi said to Barbarisi. "And I said to him, do you want to manage one day? You could see his mind turning."

Chavez's biggest obstacle is the simple improbability of ever becoming a major-league manager. After all, there are but 30 in the entire world at any given time. Still, he's got the desire and the playing credentials, so that's a fine head start.

This raises another question: which current major-leaguer would make the best manager one day? There's obviously much guesswork and speculation involved, but here are some names that spring immediately to mind: Yadier Molina, Curtis Granderson, Dustin Pedroia, Chipper Jones, Ryan Zimmerman, Jimmy Rollins, Paul Konerko ... I'd mention Derek Jeter, of course, but he's already made it quite clear that he has no interest in patrolling the dugout. 

So who do you think would make a capable skipper one of these days?

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