It’s obviously way too early to tell if this will matter or not in 2019, but Joe Maddon being a lame-duck manager is definitely having an effect on possible candidates to be Jim Hickey’s replacement as Cubs pitching coach.
Right now, Tommy Hottovy appears to be the favorite to replace Hickey and we’re getting a clearer picture as to why a veteran coach like John Farrell won’t be an option to join the Cubs in 2019.
According to Ken Rosenthal, Maddon’s lame-duck status seems to be a factor into Farrell not pursuing the pitching coach position with the Cubs. Despite the familiarity between Farrell and Theo Epstein, both were together in Boston, where Farrell was a pitching coach and then manager, don’t expect a reunion with the Cubs in 2019.
Via The Athletic.
Farrell, however, is highly unlikely to pursue the job, according to a source with knowledge of his thinking.
With Joe Maddon entering the final year of his contract, Farrell wants no part of a narrative that he might be viewed as a manager-in-waiting, the source said. Farrell, fired as manager by the Red Sox after the 2017 season, is sensitive to Maddon’s position. He worked as a scout for the Reds last season with the understanding that he would not be a candidate to replace Bryan Price.
So, for now, at least one possible candidate is out because of Maddon’s status next season. Epstein wanted it known back at the GM meetings that the team wouldn’t be negotiating with Maddon this offseason, hoping his contract status will not become a storyline throughout the 2019 season.
I love Theo, but c’mon, at the first sight of struggle in 2019, talk is immediately going to start over Maddon’s future with the Cubs.
Anyway, Rosenthal also cited Farrell’s two sons who both work for the Cubs as another reason he doesn’t want to pursue the pitching coach job.
The other complicating factor for Farrell is that two of his sons work for the Cubs — Jeremy as minor-league infield coordinator, Shane as an area scout (a third son, Luke, pitched for the Cubs last season, but was claimed off waivers by the Angels on Sept. 3). John wants Jeremy and Shane to continue making their own names in the organization, the source said.
And well, that’s the biggest news we have to talk about so far because nothing is happening in the offseason. The hot stove is frozen.
The Cubs also have an opening for their assistant hitting coach position to go along with finding a new pitching coach. Again, all signs point to Tommy Hottovy being the guy.
