NEWSLETTER
Either his interview with the Cubs scared the Tigers into action, or it scared him into action …
I kid, in part, but the Detroit Tigers have hired Brad Ausmus for their open managerial position just a couple days after the 44-year-old first-timer interviewed with the Chicago Cubs. The deal is still just in the “reported” phase, but is expected to be formalized today.
The Tigers end up being the organization to take a chance on Ausmus, which could prove a stroke of foresight, or could prove to be an unreasonable risk given the composition of their roster. Only time will tell, but kudos to the Tigers for not just grabbing a retread because they felt like they had to.
As for the Cubs, the lateness of Ausmus’s interview always suggested that there were factions of the front office who weren’t quite sold on his candidacy, even if that doesn’t mean he wasn’t very much a legitimate candidate. The Cubs now turn back to the group they’ve already interviewed – Rick Renteria, A.J. Hinch, Dave Martinez, Eric Wedge, and Manny Acta – as well as the possibility of Torey Lovullo. Renteria has long been described as the favorite, and the continued wait on a hiring seemed to be mostly about wanting an opportunity to speak with Lovullo before pulling the trigger.
We’ll see if that conversation happens this week, and, if so, if the Cubs have a new manager – either way – by Friday.
