As I mentioned earlier this week, despite lip-service entreaties from the Chicago Cubs, Ryne Sandberg is a mortal lock to leave the organization. Where he will end up is still a matter of considerable debate, and, of course, in what role.
The Toronto Blue Jays were the only team (other than the Cubs) to express some interest in Sandberg as a manager, but with their post having been filled, Ryno may have to look to another organization and another role.
The Dodgers and Diamondbacks are considering talking to Sandberg about opportunities in their organizations, according to a major-league source, however don’t rule out Sandberg staying in some capacity with the Cubs. ESPN Chicago.
Sandberg seems like a good bet to get a bench coach job *somewhere,* and I’ll be the guy that goes ahead and rules out Sandberg staying in some capacity with the Cubs. Unless he can’t find a job anywhere else, that is – and I mean that literally. I cannot envision a scenario in which Sandberg is a coach on the big team or the manager for Iowa in 2011 unless there are no other options for him (and the Cubs certainly aren’t going to give Sandberg the Ernie Banks treatment and completely cut him loose with nowhere else to go).