The Oakland Athletics have expressed interest in hiring Chip Hale as their new third-base coach, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Hale was fired as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this month after just two years on the job. For the 51-year-old, taking a job with the Athletics would be a return to his former stomping grounds: he was the A's bench coach from 2012-14.

Hale has previous experience as a third-base coach, having served in the role for the New York Mets during the 2010-11 season.

The job is currently vacant after Ron Washington departed to fill the same role with the Atlanta Braves earlier this week.

Hale is considered the "top candidate" for the opening with the A's, according to Slusser.

-- Meaghan Latella