Just hours after celebrating the Astros’ thrilling ALCS victory over the Yankees, Houston bench coach Joe Espada is headed to Chicago for a second interview with the Cubs, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports (Twitter link). For now, Espada is the only one of the Cubs’ six managerial candidates to be brought back for a second interview, greatly elevating his chances of becoming the next dugout boss at Wrigley Field. Indeed, as MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian writes, Espada and former Cubs catcher David Ross “are widely considered the top two candidates for the post.”
It should be noted that a formal second interview might not necessarily be required for three of the other known Cubs candidates, since they all currently work for the organization — bench coach Mark Loretta, first base coach Will Venable, and Ross, a special assistant to the baseball operations department. As Bastian puts it, “the Cubs know what they have in-house in Ross. A second interview with Espada will help the franchise get a better sense of what he brings to the table, too.”
Espada has been a popular managerial candidate this winter, as the Giants and Pirates have also shown interest in speaking with the 44-year-old about their own open manager positions. There hasn’t yet been any indication that Espada has interviewed with either of those clubs, however, though obviously Espada hasn’t had a lot of free time for interviews in recent weeks given the Astros’ continued postseason run.
Moving into the “second interview” phase would seem to hint that the Cubs are approaching an end to their search, though a formal announcement about a hiring may not come until after the World Series, as the league prefers teams to wait until postseason off-days to announce major news in order to keep the focus of the baseball world entirely on the Fall Classic. This isn’t to say that the Cubs couldn’t announce Espada’s hiring on a World Series off-day, of course, or that he could be hired before his Astros’ tenure is officially over. In fact, Alex Cora (Espada’s predecessor as Houston’s bench coach) was hired by the Red Sox as their next manager in the days leading up to the Astros beginning play in the 2017 World Series.
I like Rossy as a person and motivator, but I don’t think he is ready to be manager yet. Perhaps someone more prepared like Espada, with Rossy as a bench coach might be the way to go.
Sounds good
Many of the young core players will be due to sign extentions soon. How many would enjoy playing for Ross? …most of them. Hire Dave Ross. People seem to forget there is team chemistry involved. Epstein should consider that too … before his contract expires.
They will sign if the price is right, manager has nothing to do with it. These are their first contracts, they’re not 35.
Absolutely
Aww lawd! Get real! Everybody knows they are going to hire Ross! There is just big collusion to “consider” Espada and Girardi and others so people keep watching the Asstros in the world series. People knowing Espada makes them want to watch the Astros.
I would say Ross is the fan favorite, but, I believe they are looking for a fall guy and a reason to rebuild. Rossy won’t sit well with the fan base..
maybe they can trade for rick renteria?
Theo looking to lock up Espada before other teams get a chance to interview him
no one else is trying
OMG. Just hire Ross already. The players respect his leadership, he knows the Cubs players and organization inside and out and he’s a natural leader. Hire anyone else and lose even more of the respect you had until now. Put Dave Ross in and the cubs win.
Theo knows change is needed. Most of the players will be gone soon. Baez, Contreras, Rizzo and Hendricks will be the only currents players left in two years.
Actually, I doubt they keep Contreras… too much value in a player who’s often injured. That and his below average pitch framing make him expendable.
You actually might be right for once on Contreras. It should be interesting to see how Miguel Amaya progresses this year. Catching is one of the few strengths in their farm system right now.
Pitch framing. Good Lord what a joke
ah gude LAWD he dones it!
Joke’s on you.
They may trade contreras only because they have depth and they can get a lot back for their all star catcher.
They are not trading him due to some bs perception of what some no nothing people call “pitch framing”
CFAP exactly!
Catcher framing is the act of quietly receiving the ball close to the chest, and turning pitches near the edge of the zone into strikes.
That said, there’s nothing quiet about Contreras behind the plat. He stabs at the ball with his glove, and he’s constantly moving like he’s squatting on a fire ant mound. Not only is that distracting for a pitcher trying to locate, he makes it harder to get borderline pitches called for strikes. Now, run along and tell all of your little cubbie friends what you learned today.
I agree. If they don’t trade him he may change his position.
I agree and when the electronic zone comes to the mlb framing will be a thing of the past.
Wrong. Human umpire or electronic, framing is still relevant.
One of the best decisions Theo made was getting rid of Beef Castillo in favor of Montero and Ross. The reason: pitch framing. Castillo couldn’t frame a criminal caught in the act. The other guys were masters and probably worth 2-3 extra wins because of it.
Hey turdbrainchisox, we all know what pitch framing pretends to be. Show me the pitch framing stats of Alan Ashby, Yogi Berra, Johnny Bench, Mike Piazza, Carlton Fisk. Just curious how they did at that?
He said framing,heh-heh!
And a lot of teams will look past that and realize he’s one of the best hitting catchers in the league who can also play the OF.
Take heart. Sox fans posting about Cub’s fans is the the only reason people know the Sox still exist.
Hey FAPFACE, it’s 2019. You’re a joke comparing Contreras to Yogi or Bench. There are no “framing stats”, idiot. Look’em up on YouTube and tell me what you see them doing behind the plate.
Why would they not keep the best catcher in the league? That’s just dumb.
Spoken like a true Sox fan idiot.
Yea ChiSoxCity is not exactly the sharpest tack in the drawer so to speak
Cubs have the oldest team in the NL Central. Cards are the youngest. That could change before spring training, but only if drastic measures are taken, as outlined above.
Wrong. Cubs avg. age 29.5. Brewers 29.3. Cards 28.6. Pitt 27.4. Reds 27.3.
By less than a year. Let’s not act as though the average age of the Cubs is 35.
Is Dave Ross related to David Ross?
Also who loses respect if they do not hire “Dave Ross” the players? Theo? Fans? Who?
To think anyone but a novice like Ross getting the Cubs managerial position would cause any loss of respect is insane.
Mistry has had a woodie for “Dave Ross” for weeks now.
I think he’s related to that Dave that was president,nah,that was Kevin Kline.
If the cubs hire anyone else besides an in-house candidate, expect a major overhaul of the roster after next season.
The overhaul is not going to wait that long. Bryant and Russell are certainly going to be traded before this season starts, and seriously doubt they are taking the 11M option on below average Quintana. Hamels, Zobrist, Castellanos, and half the bullpen is leaving as well. Lester should have retired but wanted his last check so that sucks for them. They are going to want to fill the gap left by Hamels, but probably not going to pay what G. Cole wants., so almost certainly they go for Bumagarner. The trade of Bryant is most likely going to get them their 5th starter and some prospects unless they give Chatwood a try again.
Who says Bryant will be traded? You’re speculating.
I doubt they’re able to trade Russell. The rest of what you describe should happen, but that’s not Theo’s style. He’ll overhaul the roster methodically over time for PR reasons. Well, he’ll try to anyway. The Ricketts family might vote no confidence and decide it’s time to move on.
Russell will not be with the team. Stay on the south side. Real baseball is on the North side, and you can’t understand it.
You missed the point, sh’fer. Russell won’t bring anything back in a trade. The only reason he’s still on the roster is he has zero trade value. Whether they simply drop him from the roster or not is irrelevant.
That would be three strikes mega——-Bryant won’t be traded, Russell will be non-tendered and they will 100% keep Quintana at $11M. Lester has more than earned his money…..and there’s a chance he won’t retire after next year.
What is the point of keeping Bryant if he won’t renew with the cubs? You trade him for multiple players who can help rebuild before it’s too late. Epstein may be lousy at maintaining a roster, but he’s no dumby.
I agree Russell will and should be non tendered. Q’s option will be picked up. As for Bryant who knows. If he will not sign an extension I can see him being traded as soon as this year.
Bryant plus Boros equals bye bye Bryant.
If they know he won’t re-sign, you better believe they’ll move him. He’s a Boras guy. If they’re not in contention, or even if they get a great offer during the offseason (I doubt it), he’ll get moved. Theo doesn’t seem to play the sentimental game with players.
“Lester should have retired” – why? The Cubs signed him to a long-term contract that’s guaranteed. He should feel sorry for them because in year 6 he’s not as good as he was in year 1? Show which course in clown college speaks to this line of thinking.
Wrong on Bryant, but, before the end of the ”21 season…heck yeah. He will have to have his career year just before free agency like most of them do so he can get that Bryce Harper money.
Bryant isn’t gonna get traded maybe 2021. They can easily afford him. Unfortunately his agent is a talentless leech who likes to take his clients out of their comfort zones. I’m shocked he didn’t pry Altuve away from Houston. I bet Boras wasnt all.to happy about Altuve signing an extension
I don’t think KB will sign an extension before he’s a free agent but he’s also never been offered one either.
Why is that? Why not overhaul it now then?
What’s your source? Theo has already publicly said he wants a manager with prior big league experience! All this nonsense about David Ross, yet you neglect to mention Girardi who has sat out the last few years just to get a Chicago gig! #facts
#saynotojoe
Wrong. Girardi is not going to be the manager in Chicago. Theo also never said that.
Yes, Theo did say he values managerial experience during his last press conference. I wouldn’t expect a cubs fan to know that though. Most clueless fan base in the league.
How are Cubs fans the most clueless fan base ChiSoxCity? Is it because your a White Sox fan living in a Cubs town and that drives you insane?
I don’t live in Chicago anymore, but I’m quite sane.
Trying to talk baseball with a cubs fan can drive anyone insane though. You all are heavy koolaid drinkers, and you all have a hive-mind mentality when it comes to the White Sox and players on the cubs roster. Yankees fans are nearly as bad, but they don’t drink the koolaid. They’ll criticize their team when they think it’s warranted because they have backbone. cubsfans do not.
Theo did say he prefers managerial experience but that is what Theo does. He talks. His actions do not always agree with his bs speeches
Check out his season ending press conference. Apparently you missed it.
Theo did state he values managerial experience. Of course he then only interviews one (Girardi) who has any but that is another story.
Girardi did not sit out. He was passes over in Cincy passed over in Toronto and passed over in Texas.
No doubt Girardi craves the Cubs job but so what? The feeling os obviously not mutual. If the Cubs want Girardi they can have him but they have not made him an offer and do not seem to care that he is interviewing in Philly and NY.
But Espada … they care. No other team has had a chance to interview him only the Cubs have moved quickly to wrap that up.
Ok now you are assuming that Girardi didnt tank those interviews but still took them to pick these organizations brains on their strategies and other parts of the game.
Yah, I’m sure Joe Girardi has absolutely nothing better to do than sit around and tank interviews to learn baseball strategies from bad teams. Great call.
If anything, those teams were interviewing him to learn about baseball strategy.
You are correct Stubby. I am assuming Girardi did not “tank” the interview. That would make no sense to me. Why would anyone “tank” an interview.
He was passed over. He took the interviews because he wanted the jobs.
Theo did mention experience but Theo often talks out of his rear end.
The Cubs interviewed 6 candidates. Only one had experience so Theo again just talks crap.
If Theo wanted to hire Ross, he would have done it already. The cubs don’t need someone to be a buddy to these players. Maddon did that and it got him let go. Most these guys will be gone soon anyways, so it doesn’t matter who they like.
I sort if agree. If they want to hire Ross they still can. Maybe they are looking for something negative on Espada to justify it.
I agree Ross makes no sense here. Your correct they do not need a buddy buddy manager.
Girardi is also a known pain in the arse. He’ll be with the Mets or Phillies if anywhere this year.
Personally, they need a PITA for that clubhouse.
Girardi interviewed as a courtesy, not getting the Cub gig. Take it to the bank. You’re welcome.
Could Joe Girardi be a serious candidate here? Seems like a good fit both ways for me…
I think it’s time for a Dusty Baker reunion. They deserve one another.
Looks like this is the next Cub’s manager and I think it is a great choice. I thought it would originally be between Girardi and Farrell, but once I heard Espada was interested I really wanted that to happen. He is a great fit for the Cubs. He should help turn around that defense for sure, and being also from Puerto Rico, him and Baez should get along well. Ross is a great guy, but would have been a disaster as a first time manager with players that consider him more of a buddy than disciplinarian. I think most serious fans understand that. Only the emotional types that don’t understand the game that well are crying about Ross not getting the job.
Re-read the article. Maddon depended on Ross to get on someone when it was necessary.
I agree megaj
What about all the non-Puerto Ricans – he won’t get along well with them?
What has this fan base come to? You’re a contending team. You need a serious manager with proven skills such as a season-long strategy to preserve his older talent and top notch in-game management.
“Easy to get along with” and “fun guys” should not be a priority anymore.
Good to see a real team go through a real hiring process, rather than just hire a guy with the longest puppet strings like the team 300 miles south of Chicago.
Who was the Cubs manager for most of their rebuilding years? Please sit down.
Who cares who the manager is when you rebuild? You going to pay a guy $4M to manage rookies and aging vets taking up space. Please leave the room.
Buck Showalter should get the Cubbies job if the players in Philthadelphia choose Girardi.
Less analytics more league knowledge.
Except the Cubs have not interviewed Buck. I have no idea why but they do not seem interested.
I see it coming a mile away. Cubs put together a subpar season, hold onto the manage but get a decent draft position, tank in 2021, sell off most of our current stars who’s contracts expire after that season, fire the manager if he makes it to the end of the ’21 season. Announce a “rebuild” just before the sell off, let Theo rebuild the team, and Cubs don’t have a truly competitive team until 2025. Congrats new hire, you will be a fall guy. But hey, at least they keep Theo, who can build a World Series team, just not maintain it. We should be playing the Astros right now….
Any experienced manager worth their salt should steer clear of Theo Epstein. Look how many managers the cubs have hired and fired since he took over. It’s insane.
Did you not know Maddon was there for 5 years? And he fired one manager in order to be able to get Maddon. I would say history will show that to be a shrewd move.
3 managers in 8 years is not insane. Also how long was Terry Francona with Theo?
Between Francona and Maddon I would say working for Theo as manager has a pretty good chance of being a long term gig
Sveum, Renteria, Maddon, ???. The next manager won’t be there long either if Theo blows it up before he gets fired.