No real surprise here, given the past connection and the timing of everything.
With a pitching coach opening on Joe Maddon’s staff, the team will be meeting with Jim Hickey:
Sources confirm The Cubs will interview Jim Hickey on Monday for the Pitching coach job. He has had interviews with Boston and St Louis .
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) October 22, 2017
Having parted ways with the Rays after 11 years, eight of which came under Joe Maddon, Hickey is a sought after free agent, and the Cubs appear inclined to pounce. (And hey, if they snake him away from the Cardinals, all the better.)
Hickey came up as a coach in the Astros’ system, and then was their pitching coach for two years before moving over to the Rays. Given how often we talk about all the Rays pitchers we’d like the Cubs to pursue (this has been happening for a half decade at this point), Hickey certainly comes with a good track record for helping develop young pitchers, something in which the Cubs should be especially interested at this point.
As an aside: Gordon Wittenmyer reports that the Cardinals may consider fired Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio for their own opening. You’d rather not see a guy who knows the secret sauce go to a rival, but you also do wish Bosio the best.