Ned Yost, a bit player in Milwaukee's glory days, was named the team's new manager Tuesday while Oakland promoted Ken Macha from bench coach to manager.

Just two managing jobs remain open, the Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners, while San Francisco and Dusty Baker are still undecided about working out a new contract. Seven new managers have been hired since the end of the regular season.

"I've been waiting to put this on for a while," Yost said as he put on a Brewers uniform, returning to the team where he was a backup catcher in the 1980s. "Great fit."

Yost spent the last 11 seasons on Bobby Cox's coaching staff in Atlanta. Yost replaces Jerry Royster, who was fired after Milwaukee finished a franchise-worst 56-106 last season. The A's didn't wait long to replace Art Howe, who officially was hired Monday as manager of the New York Mets. Oakland GM Billy Beane was certain Macha would leave to become manager of another team. He said the framework of a contract was in place with the Brewers before Howe left.

"You're talking about a guy with a civil engineering degree," Beane said. "He's very organized, very structured. I think Kenny's one of those guys who's matter-of-fact and easy to communicate with. He also addresses things, both good and bad."

"I don't know who controls all this stuff," Macha said. "(Maybe) a 1,000-one shot it all happened this way."

Macha spent four years as a manager in the Boston organization before joining the A's as a bench coach before the 1999 season.

Since the end of the season, Alan Trammell replaced Luis Pujols in Detroit, Buck Showalter replaced Jerry Narron in Texas and Howe replaced Bobby Valentine with the Mets.

San Francisco said it will first address whether to keep general manager Brian Sabean before discussing the status of Baker, who appears likely to leave.