Earlier in November former Chicago Cubs manager David Ross was reportedly receiving interest from the Baltimore Orioles, who wanted him to become the bench coach. If Ross had elected to take the job, then he’d reunite with Brandon Hyde, who was a coach with the Cubs between 2014-18. However, it seems as though Ross has passed on the opporunity.
The Orioles announced their 2025 coaching staff under Hyde on Monday and their new bench coach is a former Cubs catcher, but instead of Ross it’s Robinson Chirinos.
Introducing our 2025 Major League coaching staff! pic.twitter.com/ztEpU6XZZP
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) November 25, 2024
Chirinos, who ended his playing career with the Orioles in 2022, has been named Baltimore’s new bench coach. In 2021, Chirinos signed with the Cubs in early July, and played in 45 games for them that season. He wasn’t bad either, a .778 OPS in 112 plate appearances.
Anyway, the original report that the Orioles were interested in Ross for the bench coach spot came from MLB insider Ken Rosenthal in The Athletic. A trustworthy source and it honestly seems like Ross is waiting for another manager gig to open up so that he can interview and doesn’t want to waste his time as a bench coach.
After the Cubs fired Ross following the 2023 season and replaced him with Craig Counsell, the New York Yankees reportedly wanted Ross as their bench coach. Ross did not take that job either.
(Previous Update)
David Ross had his name in the rumor mill last month, reportedly getting interest from the Cincinnati Reds for their vacant manager spot. Ultimately, Terry Francona was hired by the Reds. Now, Ross is back in the news as the Baltimore Orioles are reportedly targeting the former Cubs manager to be their new bench coach.
The Orioles parted ways with three coaches after the team’s quick exit from the postseason in October. That included bench coach Fredi González, who served the role for the last three seasons. Now, as Baltimore looks to assemble a new staff, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Orioles are interested in Ross to replace González.
Via The Athletic.
The Baltimore Orioles are interested in David Ross for their bench-coach vacancy, according to sources familiar with the team’s process. Whether Ross would want the job, if the Orioles indeed offered it, is not known.
If Ross does take the job, then he’d be reunited with former Cubs first-base coach Brandon Hyde. Ross ended his playing career with the Cubs in 2015-16, which overlapped with Hyde’s time in the organization. Before taking over as Baltimore’s manager in 2019, Hyde was a coach fro the Cubs from 2014-18.
Following his four-year stint as Cubs manager Ross was abruptly fired last offseason, when the Cubs shocked the baseball world by hiring Craig Counsell. Ross did not return to the dugout in 2024, after reportedly turning down the bench coach job under Aaron Boone with the New York Yankees.
Maybe a year away from the game has rejuvenated Ross’ desire to coach again and the Orioles seem like a good landing spot with a familiar face in Hyde ready to welcome Ross with open arms. We’ll see if Ross does indeed share mutual feelings with the Orioles in the coming weeks.
