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Joe Girardi: “I Want To Manage Again”

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Former Yankees and Marlins manager Joe Girardi hasn’t been in the dugout since the Yankees opted not to re-sign him after the 2017 season, but he made clear in an appearance with Mully & Haugh on 670 The Score AM this morning that he’s interested not only in the Cubs’ current vacancy but in any of the managerial gigs available this winter (Twitter links). “Any job out there is going to interest me, because I want to manage again,” said the 2006 NL Manager of the Year. Girardi added that he won’t comment on whether he has an interview lined up with the Cubs or any other team.

Girardi has previously discussed his desire to get back into the dugout and earlier this year even expressed an openness to managing a rebuilding club. He’s been working as an analyst for the MLB Network since last year. Girardi interviewed for several openings in the 2018-19 offseason, including the Rangers, Blue Jays and Reds, although he ultimately withdrew his name from consideration in Cincinnati’s search. Texas and Toronto, meanwhile went with younger and/or less-experienced options in Chris Woodward and Charlie Montoyo, respectively.

An even greater slate of managerial vacancies will likely present itself to Girardi and other candidates this winter, as the Padres, Royals, Cubs, Angels, Pirates and Giants, at the very least, will be seeking new skippers. The Phillies and Mets could yet join them in that regard, as rumors surrounding the status of Gabe Kapler and Mickey Callaway continue to swirl.

Girardi, who’ll turn 55 later this month, has spent 11 seasons as a big league manager and compiled a 910-710 record during regular-season play. He was at the helm for the Yankees’ most recent World Series win back in 2009 and has an overall record of 28-24 in postseason play. Given his track record and vocal stance on wanting to manage again, Girardi will join Joe Maddon among the more high-profile candidates seeking a new opportunity this winter.

Latest On Cubs’ Managerial Opening

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The Cubs parted with manager Joe Maddon last weekend, but it’s possible they’ll turn to one of his former underlings to steer the ship in 2020. Bench coach Mark Loretta and first base coach Will Venable are officially candidates to become the team’s next manager, per Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. They join the previously confirmed David Ross as in-house possibilities to succeed Maddon.

President of baseball operations Theo Epstein suggested Monday that hiring someone with previous managerial experience would be a plus. However, nobody from the Loretta-Venable-Ross trio has managed in either the majors or minors up to now.

The 48-year-old Loretta, a two-time All-Star during his tenure as a major league infielder, is coming off his first season on Chicago’s coaching staff. Loretta previously worked as a special assistant with the Padres, who hired him upon his retirement in 2010.

Still just 36, Venable isn’t far removed from a respectable run as a major league outfielder with the Padres, Rangers and Dodgers. Venable retired to join the Chicago front office in September 2017, though the team changed his role to that of a coach a couple months later.

Loretta, Venable and Ross are among a seemingly large group of candidates to take over as the Cubs’ next manager. Epstein said Monday he and his front office cohorts are assembling a “broad list” of names as they work to recover from an awful finish to the 2019 season.

Theo Epstein On Bryant, Baez, Team Needs, Managerial Search

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Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein met with reporters Monday to discuss the team’s disappointing season, its upcoming winter and its newly launched search for a manager. Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com and Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune were among those on hand.

Just as previous manager Joe Maddon wasn’t safe after the Cubs sputtered to 84-78 finish, multiple stars on the team’s roster could be in danger of exiting the franchise. Specifically, Epstein seemingly isn’t slamming the door shut on potential trades involving third baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant or shortstop Javier Baez.

“I think they’re both hugely important, and it’d be hard to see them out of a Cubs uniform, but we’re at a transition point, and we have to do whatever is best for the Cubs,” Epstein said. “I hope it includes both of those guys.”

As two of the finest players in the game, Bryant and Baez have been vital to the Cubs’ cause throughout their careers. However, the club’s control over them is waning. Both players are scheduled to enter arbitration for the second-last time during the winter, with the former NL MVP Bryant about to become especially expensive. Bryant earned $12.9MM this season, during which the 27-year-old posted star-caliber numbers yet again. Baez, 26, took home a more modest $5.2MM, and though injuries held him to 138 appearances, he enjoyed his second straight year of premier production for his position.

As of last February, the Cubs hadn’t discussed extensions with either Bryant or Baez. If the Cubs aren’t optimistic they can lock up either player, that could possibly persuade them to shop one or both. However, contending without Bryant and-or Baez would only be more difficult, and Epstein noted that winning “is a priority” in 2020 “because we’re now just two years away from a lot of our best players reaching the end of their period of control with the Cubs.”

Regardless of what happens with Bryant or Baez, Epstein revealed the Cubs are going to address center field and second base in the offseason. That suggests center fielder Albert Almora Jr., middle infielder Addison Russell, and utilitymen David Bote and maybe Ian Happ are “in flux,” Wittenmyer writes, who adds that the majority of the roster could be in play for trades (with the potential exceptions of catcher Willson Contreras, first baseman Anthony Rizzo and right-hander Kyle Hendricks).

As for who will be managing what could be a drastically different Chicago roster next season, former Cubs catcher and current special assistant David Ross has already thrown his hat in the ring. Epstein admitted there’s interest in hiring the fan favorite to take over for Joe Maddon, saying: “I think Rossy is an attractive candidate and will be evaluated on the merits of what he can bring to the table as a major-league manager. Given his skills, his experiences, his worldview, what he knows about winning, just as every other managerial candidate will be evaluated.”

Ross is part of a “broad list” of preliminary candidates, according to Epstein, with reports indicating it could also include bench coach Mark Loretta. The Cubs expect to start interviewing targets next week, and though hiring someone with previous managerial experience isn’t “a determining factor,” it is a “significant factor,” Epstein stated. “I have a greater comfort for someone handling the role before.”

Cubs Will Reportedly Consider Raul Ibanez For Managerial Job

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  • The Cubs will consider Raul Ibanez for the managerial post Joe Maddon just lost, according to Jon Morosi of MLB.com. Ibanez, a former major league outfielder, has no managerial experience. However, the 47-year-old has stayed in the game since his playing days ended in 2014 by serving as a special assistant in the Dodgers’ front office and a broadcaster. The work Ibanez has done in his post-playing career has made him an appealing possibility to skipper-needy teams over the past couple years, though he turned down managerial interview requests from clubs last offseason.

David Ross Indicates 'Interest' In Cubs Job

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  • Former catcher David Ross is already a permanent figure in Cubs postseason lore–but could he become a regular fixture in their dugout in 2020? If Ross’ comments on ESPN this evening–as relayed by Jesse Rogers–are any indication, it sure sounds like he would have any interest in the now-vacant Chicago managerial position (Twitter link). “I think it’s one of the best jobs in baseball,” Ross said of the opening. “I’ve got a lot of close ties with those guys. I think the interest would be there. I think my heart is drawn to that dugout a little bit.” It’s worth noting that Ross also said his current role with ESPN does provide him with much-valued family time. At the same time, Ross’ quotes won’t do much to quell rumors tabbing him as the replacement for his former manager Joe Maddon.

Joe Maddon Out As Cubs Manager

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The Cubs announced today that Joe Maddon will not return as manager in 2020. He and Cubs president Theo Epstein have agreed to part ways following the conclusion of Maddon’s contract.

Maddon, 65, has managed the Cubs each of the last five seasons, compiling an overall 471-338 record in Chicago. He’s led the team to a winning record in each of those years, including 90+ wins and a postseason berth in four of five seasons. Of course, his crowning achievement is the 2016 season, when he and the Cubs claimed a World Series title for the first time since 1908.

Despite that run of sustained success, it comes as little surprise that Maddon will not return to the Cubs. It seems that the organization has been moving towards this end since last season, with the front office and Maddon agreeing that it’s time for a change. After a languid performance in the 2018 Wild Card Game and a September collapse in 2019, it seems that the magic of 2016 has run out, with Theo Epstein and the front office seemingly drifting out of sync with Maddon’s leadership style.

That’s not to say that Maddon is entirely at fault for the Cubs’ disappointing performance in the last two seasons; rather, it’s merely a reminder that the relationship between a team and its manager can evolve, even during a period of great success. An apparent erosion of the bond between Maddon and the Cubs became apparent when the organization refused to commit to Maddon for the future after last season, leaving him as a lame-duck manager entering 2019.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today speculates that the Padres, Phillies, and Mets could all be potential landing spots for Maddon. Of course, the Padres are the only team in that group that currently has a managerial vacancy, though there has been no shortage of speculation that Gabe Kapler and Mickey Callaway will soon find themselves without a job. Per Jesse Rogers of ESPN, Maddon does intend to continue managing next year, and there should be a number of suitors interested in his services. Kansas City, San Francisco, and now Pittsburgh will also have openings in the dugout.

Maddon is the owner of a sterling track record in his 16-year managerial career, with his teams posting a 1252-1067 record overall. He managed the 2008 Rays team that won the American League pennant and has led his teams to 90 or more wins in nine different seasons. His forward-thinking attitude and ability to manage either a rebuilding team or a contender should make him an attractive candidate for a variety of teams, even in the face of an industry-wide proclivity for younger, cheaper managers.

As for the Cubs, it remains to be seen how they’ll approach their search for the club’s next skipper. The organization could target an experienced manager such as Joe Girardi or Mike Scioscia, or they could turn to lesser-known, inexperienced candidates. Of that latter group, many will mention Mark Loretta, the Cubs’ current bench coach, and beloved franchise icon David Ross. However, those names are all merely speculative, and the team has given no hint as to how they will navigate the hiring process.

New TV Network Will Not Affect Baseball Ops

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  • The Cubs say goodbye to WGN this week, the beloved television network known as the home of Cubs content for the last 72 years. The long-awaited Marquee Sports Network launches next year, but the revenue streams won’t provide real kickback for a couple of years, per Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. The long-promised “wheelbarrow full of money” won’t be arriving at Theo Epstein’s baseball operations department from day one, but neither does Epstein see the new television deal affecting baseball decisions. Said Epstein, “We want to win the World Series. But it’s not because of the TV network. That’s the goal. It’s unrelated. There’s a wall between baseball decisions and anything related to the TV network.”

Yu Darvish Suggests Opt-Out Unlikely

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Cubs righty Yu Darvish isn’t ready to make anything official, but has given clear indication in recent comments that he has no intentions of opting out of the remaining four years and $81MM left on his contract. That it’s even a question worth asking reflects his remarkable mid-season turnaround.

In recent interviews with Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune and the full slate of Cubs beat reporters (including MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian), Darvish said he’s going to take some time to think things over and discuss it with his agent and family. There’s still a few weeks’ time to think things over. Darvish’s season is over — he won’t take his final start owing to nagging forearm discomfort — and he doesn’t need to make an official decision until after the end of the World Series.

But it doesn’t seem likely that things will change in the interim. Darvish said that he’s “so comfortable” in Chicago and that his family is as well. He credited the organization — particularly skipper Joe Maddon — for patience as he worked through marked early difficulties after signing a big contract.

Truth be told, it’d be tough for Darvish to beat the remaining guarantee he has in hand. He just turned 33, has a worrying injury history, and limped through his first year-and-a-half with the Cubs. But he has been exceptional down the stretch. Over his final 13 starts, Darvish carried a 2.76 ERA with 118 strikeouts and just seven walks.

Darvish says he has never before commanded the baseball as well as he is now. With the results to prove it, the future again looks promising for a key Cubs performer. Darvish, at least, thinks that Chicago is the right place for him to continue his excellent career. “This organization is perfect for me,” he says.

Cubs Notes: Hamels, Maddon, Russell

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Already out of playoff contention, the Cubs’ late-season downward spiral continued with a loss to the lowly Pirates on Thursday. The Cubs have now dropped nine straight, including a three-game sweep at Pittsburgh’s hands. Thanks in part to their September unraveling, there’s sure to be notable changes to the Cubs’ roster (and perhaps the coaching staff) over the next several months. Here’s the latest on a few members of the organization who will head into the offseason with uncertain futures…

  • Left-hander Cole Hamels has been one of the Cubs’ top starters overall this year, but he – like many of his teammates – hasn’t performed at his usual levels this month. Hamels is scheduled to start Chicago’s game Saturday in St. Louis, which could go down as his last with the Cubs. The soon-to-be 36-year-old is on his way to free agency, though he does seem open to staying where he is. “It was a dream come true,” Hamels told Jordan Bastian of MLB.com of his time with the Cubs. “I love pitching at Wrigley. And to be able to put a Cubs uniform on, this is a tremendous organization and one of the best fan bases you can ever play in front of.” Hamels, whom the Cubs acquired from the Rangers before the 2018 trade deadline, has earned $20MM this year after the club exercised his option last offseason. Although he won’t do that well again on his next deal (not on an annual basis, at least), Hamels has produced enough in 2019 to reel in another solid payday. An oblique injury has helped limit the longtime workhorse to 137 2/3 innings, but he has still turned in a respectable 3.92 ERA/4.22 FIP with 8.83 K/9, 3.66 BB/9 and a 47.5 percent groundball rate.
  • Hamels’ fate won’t be officially determined until at least November, whereas an answer on manager Joe Maddon’s future should arrive within a few days. Maddon, also without a contract for next season, said Thursday (via Bastian) he’s “certain” he’ll know by the start of next week whether he’ll remain in the Cubs’ plans. “I’ve got to know by Monday, yeah,” said Maddon, who will be traveling back to his hometown of Hazelton, Pa., by then. Chicago’s fifth-year manager expressed optimism earlier this week that the team will bring him back, but president of baseball operations Theo Epstein hasn’t tipped his hand.
  • Unlike Hamels and Maddon, middle infielder Addison Russell is under the Cubs’ control for next season. That doesn’t mean he’ll stay with the franchise, though. To the chagrin of many observers, the Cubs stuck with Russell this year after a domestic violence suspension, bringing him back for $3.4MM in his third-last season of arbitration eligibility. However, the weak .226/.300/.385 line Russell has posted in 234 plate appearances in 2019 could help make him an offseason non-tender candidate. Asked if he’d welcome a change of scenery, Russell offered (via Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times): “You could look at this a lot of different ways. The grass isn’t necessarily greener on the other side.”

MLBTR Poll: Cubs’ Biggest Roster Need

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There’s still a lot of time left to dissect what could be a fascinating upcoming offseason for the Cubs. Questions abound for the organization. This time last year, it wasn’t yet clear how limited the spending capacity would be. We’ve got quite a bit left to learn before we can seriously contemplate just how the club can fill its chief needs. But with the team now officially bounced from the postseason race, it seems an opportune moment to gauge the sentiment of the MLBTR readership on the key roster issues facing the team moving forward.

Looking forward, the Cubs will dispatch Ben Zobrist, Cole Hamels, Steve Cishek, and the recently acquired Nicholas Castellanos onto the open market. Otherwise, the club controls the remainder of the roster. Barring a major trade, there isn’t a need behind the dish (Willson Contreras, Victor Caratini), in the corner infield (Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo), or at shortstop (Javier Baez). There are a variety of multi-positional players floating around, but nobody has a firm claim to second base. The team can account for most of the necessary outfield, rotation, and bullpen spots, but could clearly stand to improve in all of those areas.

There’s a basic snapshot. What do you think the biggest need is for the Cubbies? (Poll link for app users.)

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