The Chicago Cubs are down to the finalists for their managerial opening – interim manager Mike Quade, AAA Iowa manager Ryne Sandberg, and former Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge (the tea leaves indicate that, because Bob Melvin has yet to meet with Tom Ricketts, he’s probably not a finalist). And all of the finalists have been interviewed multiple times by both Jim Hendry and Tom Ricketts. A decision should therefore be coming in the next few days, right?
Possibly not. And it’s possibly because of Yankee skipper Joe Girardi.
The other reason for the deliberate pace, of course, is New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi. A source close to the process said the Cubs continue to monitor potential signals that Girardi, whose contract expires when the Yankees’ season is done, might be interested in the job.
The Cubs don’t want to close the door on what would be the best available outside candidate if Girardi makes himself available for an interview, the source said, regardless of how much of a long shot it might seem to land him. Girardi, a former Cubs catcher with strong local ties, was a candidate for the job four years ago.
Other sources close to Hendry emphasize that he is under no orders to stretch out the process for Girardi — or anyone else — if he’s confident he has identified and secured the top man for the job.
Several insiders expect an announcement before the World Series opener in less than two weeks — unless Girardi joins the mix. Hendry said at the start of the process that it would be ideal to have a manager in place by the organizational meetings, which are scheduled to start Nov. 2. CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.
The longer the Cubs wait, the more certainly they signal to Girardi that they’re willing to wait on him. Like a middle school relationship, though, the Cubs haven’t yet got a note back from Girardi that he might be interested.