Report: Fredi Gonzalez is Chicago Cubs’ Top Choice for Next Manager
The Chicago Cubs will search far and wide for their next manager, as they should. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have a first choice already – and according to “sources,” that top man is former Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez.
Sources say that Gonzalez is at the top of general manager Jim Hendry’s wish list in the early stages of the process and that he prefers a manager with major-league experience — with Class AAA manager Ryne Sandberg considered the strongest, if not only, serious candidate without that.
Gonzalez’s communication skills with Latin players he has managed, as well as his swift and decisive handling of Marlins star Hanley Ramirez’s loafing earlier this season, are considered significant strengths in his favor.
Gonzalez, 46, has a strong relationship with Hendry that goes back three decades and included time together in the Marlins organization.
Reached by phone Tuesday night, Gonzalez would neither confirm nor deny interest in the job or contact by the Cubs.
”I don’t have anything I can tell you,” he said, ”except Jim and I go back to my high school days. He coached one of the opposing teams when I played. And we worked together with the Marlins.”
Asked specifically whether he had interviewed or expected to, he declined comment. But indications are he’s in the first group of candidates on Hendry’s interview list. CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.
Gonzalez is also expected to be pursued heavily by the Atlanta Braves to replace retiring skipper Bobby Cox. Gonzalez was a coach with the Braves from 2003 to 2006.
While with the Marlins, Gonzalez had a .497 winning percentage, including back-to-back winning years in 2008 and 2009. He was widely regarded as one of the best young managers in the game, if not one of the best regardless of experience.
For my part, I view Gonzalez and Joe Girardi as options 1 and 1A in the managerial search. If the Cubs land one of them, I certainly won’t complain, but that said, I remain open minded with respect to whomever the Cubs end up with. So far, I don’t see anyone on the list that I’d scream bloody murder about – like I did (on the inside) when the Cubs went with Dusty Baker, and, to a lesser extent, Lou Piniella.
The Chicago Cubs Will Sign Adam Dunn if Marlon Byrd Has His Way
With a gaping hole at first base, left vacated by Derrek Lee who was traded to the Atlanta Braves two weeks ago after manning the spot for almost seven seasons, speculation as to whom will be the next first baseman is bound to bandy about for the next few months. So I guess I’m saying prepare yourself – it could reach Obsessive Watch status.
Adam Dunn, a free agent after this season, will likely be a primary target, assuming he doesn’t sign the extension that the Nationals are so desperately trying to get him to sign. That is, at least, according to Cubs center fielder Marlon Byrd.
“Definitely. You know the guys we’ve lost this year,” Byrd said. “Quality guys like [Ted] Lilly [traded to the Dodgers] and [Derrek Lee [traded to the Braves]. You’re thinking you have to replace those guys. Our clubhouse is good, but we need some athletes out there. I have an idea who they should bring in, the type of players. I think I have an idea of who to bring in to help us win.”
I asked Byrd what impact Dunn would have on the Cubs.
“He’s a definite automatic. I think anyody wants a guy like that,” Byrd said. “Hopefully the team he is on doesn’t hold on to him so that we get a shot at him next year because thump from the left side like that just doesn’t come around often. You always want a guy hitting 30 to 40 home runs a year on your team. He’s certainly one of the guys I’ve been thinking about.” ESPN Chicago.
Dunn’s general lack of athleticism leads me to question Byrd’s successive comments that the Cubs need “some athletes” out there, and that the Cubs should go after Adam Dunn. Nevertheless, Dunn figures to be one of the better options available to the Cubs this winter.
Could Marlon Byrd Head Back to the Rangers?
Tomorrow marks the last day that a team can make a trade (via the waiver system) for a player, and include that player on its post-season roster. The Chicago Cubs have already made a couple waiver trades, sending Mike Fontenot to the Giants and Derrek Lee to the Braves.
But are the Cubs done dealing? They are assuredly still working the phones to try and outsource Kosuke Fukudome and Xavier Nady, but beyond that, no one believes the Cubs are considering moving anyone else.
Well, except maybe Richard Durrett, who writes the Texas Rangers blog for ESPNDallas. In a list of potential acquisition targets for the Rangers, Durrett lists a Cub – but not one you’d expect:
Marlon Byrd, Cubs: I only throw this in there because I find it intriguing, but Byrd fits the mold. He can play all the outfield positions and has a big bat against lefties. Byrd is hitting .366 with four homers and 19 RBIs against left-handed pitching this season. But, of course, he has two more years left on his contract in Chicago and I can’t think the Cubs would consider dealing him. Even if they do, it would involve a top prospect. So I can’t see it happening. But could you imagine Byrd back in the Rangers’ clubhouse down the stretch? ESPN Dallas.
Byrd’s contract escalates the next two years ($5.5 million in 2011, $6.5 million in 2012), and it’s possible that the Cubs could have Tyler Colvin or Kosuke Fukudome handle center field until prospect Brett Jackson is ready for the bigs (perhaps as soon as mid-season next year).
But that’s where the “this is possible” stops.
The Cubs love Marlon Byrd, and given his production and defense this year, they’ve got him relatively cheap over the next two years. Further, would Byrd really pass through waivers without being claimed by any NL team or any AL team with a worse record than the Rangers? Given his contract, it seems like a number of teams would be happy to take him on for the next couple of years, even if they’re not competitive this year.
In short, a trade of Marlon Byrd seems highly unlikely for a number of reasons.
Chicago Cubs Interview Eric Wedge for Managerial Opening
The Chicago Cubs have interviewed former Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge for their managerial vacancy. Wedge was not among the names rumored to be on the Cubs’ short list as recently as a week ago, so this is at least a moderate surprise.
Wedge managed the Indians from 2003-09, winning the American League Manager of the Year Award in 2007, when he guided the Indians to the ALCS, only to lose to the Boston Red Sox after going up 3-1.
Wedge, 42, won over 500 games with the Indians, including a first-place finish in 2007 and finishing second in 2005 behind the world champion Chicago White Sox.
Wedge, who resides in Richfield, Ohio, was fired by Cleveland after the 2009 season. The Indians are paying Wedge through this season.
The former major league catcher, originally from Ft. Wayne, Ind., was an All-American at Wichita State and was on the 1989 Shockers team that won the College World Series.
At that time, Hendry was the head coach of league rival Creighton University. That’s when Wedge first caught Hendry’s attention….
Wedge would have to be considered a top candidate for the Cubs job. Others to get interviewed will include Ryne Sandberg; former Florida Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez and Washington Nationals coach and former Cubs minor league manager Pat Listach.
Mike Quade, the Cubs interim manager, also will get strong consideration. Friends of New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi have stated he would have strong interest in the Cubs job if he left the Yankees after the season. ESPN Chicago.
It remains a simple fact that, if Girardi does not re-sign with the Yankees, and his demands are reasonable, he will be the next manager of the Chicago Cubs. Here’s hoping that, by interviewing other available candidates long before Girardi is available, the Cubs do not box themselves into a corner – i.e., they’ve got a candidate like Wedge that they like, but he’s got another team like the Mariners breathing down his neck to make a decision. And yet, the Cubs are waiting to hear from Girardi. In that instance, interviewing Wedge so early could put them in an awkward position – and possibly even a position to be left out in the cold with respect to their preferred candidates.
Wedge was fired in 2009 after the Indians were incredibly disappointing for the second consecutive season. The team had a strong core built going into the 2007 season (in which they were very good), but that same core disintegrated over the next two years, leading to Wedge’s undoing.
Adam Dunn Loves the Chicago Cubs
After trading Derrek Lee, the Chicago Cubs opened up a substantial void at first base – a void, though, that was likely to be opened after the season anyway. Lee is a free agent after this season, and the Cubs, who’d rebuffed Lee’s attempts to discuss an extension, seemed eager to explore alternatives for 2011.
One such alternative is playing on the other side of the diamond this week: National’s first baseman, Adam Dunn. Dunn, also a free agent after this season, has been discussing an extension with the Nationals with little progress to show for it. Would Dunn consider coming to the Cubs?
”It’s a great place to play,” said Dunn, who’s an old Cincinnati teammate and friend of Cubs clubhouse leader Ryan Dempster and who also has developed a rapport, if not a budding relationship, with Hendry.
”I know Jim from my Cincinnati days,” he said. ”We hit it off. He’s one of my favorites. And I hear nothing but great things about him.”
If nothing else, it sounds like a pretty good fit.
”Hopefully,” Dunn said, catching himself to reiterate his ongoing talks with the Nats. ”You never know.” CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.
Three quick thoughts:
1.) Obviously this is mega early. The Cubs wouldn’t actually be able to start pursuing Dunn until a couple weeks after the World Series.
2.) Dunn made some overtures toward the Cubs in 2008 regarding the team’s opening in right field before the Cubs chose, sigh, Milton Bradley. The Cubs were not interested at that time, though that could simply be because they didn’t feel he could handle right field. First base might be another story.
3.) Guys with Dunn’s skill set – big, hulking dudes, who are low on athleticism but big on power – do not generally tend to age well. Adam Dunn is not old, but he is now on the north side of 30.
Now Carlos Zambrano Says He Wouldn’t Waive His No-Trade Clause
Not but a couple weeks ago, Chicago Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano – freshly off the restricted list, where he’d been serving a team-imposed suspension, and going to anger management, following a dugout tirade – said he would allow the Cubs to trade him this Winter if they really wanted to (protip: they do). Zambrano, you’ll note, has a no-trade clause, so he can block any potential trade.
Now, Zambrano has completely flipped, expressing a desire to stay in Chicago, and suggesting he would indeed veto any trade that takes him out of town.
Zambrano was asked what he thinks the team might have in store for him in the future.
“I don’t know,” Zambrano said. “But it’s my option. I don’t want to leave Chicago. I want to be successful here. I want to help this team, like I always say, be in the pennant race.”
When Zambrano came back to the team in San Francisco, he said at that time, he’d allow the Cubs to trade him if they decided they no longer wanted his services.
“I don’t want to leave,” Zambrano said. “And I don’t think I will leave.” ESPN Chicago.
For now, this is all academic – there will be no trades on the table for several months. The Cubs hope Zambrano continues to pitch well in his return to the rotation (though the word “continue” is probably not the right choice there, given Zambrano’s deceptively poor performances), and they’ll let the rest shake out however it does this Winter.
For what it’s worth, Jayson Stark quotes one NL Exec who says the Cubs can move Zambrano only if they eat almost all of his deal, and another who says the Cubs can’t move Zambrano no matter how much they eat. Both say that the reason is not Zambrano’s attitude or shenanigans – it’s his lost velocity and suddenly average pitches.
Reports: Derrek Lee to Be Traded to Atlanta Braves
The Chicago Cubs on the verge of trading first baseman Derrek Lee to the Atlanta Braves, according to multiple reports. Lee is in the last year of his contract with the Cubs, and earlier this year vetoed a trade to the Los Angeles Angels. Why he would now decide not to exercise his no-trade rights and permit a trade to the Braves is unclear, but this rumor has legs. In fact, sources are indicating that Lee would indeed waive his no-trade clause to head to the Braves.
The Braves are expected to assume much of Lee’s remaining 2010 salary (having passed on signing some high cost draft picks earlier this week), which is about $3 million, and the Cubs aren’t expected to get much in the way of prospects.
Aramis Ramirez Unlikely to Be Traded
It was an exciting 24 hours, but the odds of Aramis Ramirez being traded to the Atlanta Braves is approximately 0 to 1. Or 0 to 1,000,000. Whichever seems more unlikely to you.
You can forget about any of those rumors that have third baseman Aramis Ramirez going to Atlanta to replace the injured Chipper Jones. Cubs people were quick to dismiss them.
Ramirez, who has 10-and-5 rights and no-trade protection, holds an option on next year’s contract, and he has indicated he will exercise it. He has had a down year at the plate, much of it because of injury, and there might not be much of a market for him.
On top of that, if Ramirez were to be traded, an option for 2012 kicks in, making him a cost-prohibitive option for most teams. Daily Herald.
As I said yesterday, the deal would have made little sense from the Cubs’ perspective, unless they are going into a full rebuild. There is no third baseman ready to go in the Cubs’ system, and Blake DeWitt doesn’t have a big league bat at third. Throw in the fact that Jim Hendry has said the Cubs will not rebuild next year, and you’ve got a highly unlikely trade scenario that just got an obvious back of the hand.
