The Cubs already have interviewed Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin, Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum and Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux as possible replacements for the fired Mike Quade.
After talking with four candidates, Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said there is no leader at this point.
“It’s still totally open for debate,” Hoyer said. “We are going to get back and have some discussions and then probably have some follow-up conversations. We spent a lot of time with these candidates. Now we can think about some follow-up questions.”
Hoyer confirmed that president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona are still in contact.
Francona told the Chicago Tribune that he is interested in the Cubs job, and Epstein has said a formal interview wouldn’t be necessary, given the familiarity with Francona from their nine seasons working together in Boston.
As a former catcher, Alomar comes from a position that has produced many successful managers. But if Maddux is the choice, he would follow a recent trend in baseball of hiring pitching coaches as managers, joining San Diego‘s Bud Black and Toronto‘s John Farrell.
“It is a different perspective,” said Hoyer, who worked with Black when Hoyer was GM in San Diego. “I was with Bud Black the last few years and the game is so much about pitching, pitching and defense. For the most part, teams that win have good pitching. Bud did a great job with position players as well. My sense is with Mike is that he would do the same thing.
“But the game is about preparation, pitching and defense. Right now you have Bud Black and John Farrell who are excellent managers who were pitching coaches.”
In addition to looking for a manager, Hoyer said the Cubs have been preparing for the general manager meetings which begin Tuesday in Milwaukee.
“I think Theo and I are excited about going up to Milwaukee and having face-to-face conversations with the other (GMs),” Hoyer said. “We’ve had some pre-GM meetings to kind of lay the groundwork (on trades). But until we go up there and see them face to face, then it will intensify when we see what ideas other teams have and what players they have interest in.
“Because we haven’t had that as members of the Cubs yet. So both of us are really excited to get up there and get started.”
Hoyer added that talks with the Red Sox regarding compensation for Epstein coming to Chicago will continue at the meetings.
Source: ESPNChicago.com
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