Today we learned the Cubs had made their first new coaching staff hire (Chris Young as the new bullpen coach), but now we also learn there is an additional outgoing coach.
After just one year in the role, Chris Denorfia is out as the quality assurance coach:
Chris Denorfia won’t be back as quality assurance coach with the Cubs. With a new regime there are obviously changes. Denorfia, the former outfielder, is extremely well-respected throughout the game.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 7, 2019
Denorfia, a former long-time player and a former Cub, joined the organization in the front office before the 2018 season, and then became Joe Maddon’s final Cubs quality assurance coach for the 2019 season. There’s no word just yet on whether Denorfia is leaving the organization entirely, or if he’s headed into a different role. He is very well-liked by the front office, as I understand it, with the relationship going all the way back to his days with Jed Hoyer in the Padres organization.
As for the open position, the role of the quality assurance coach (which was a new invention in recent years) is kind of an all-purpose helper coach. It depends on the organization, but sometimes it’s just a way to get another coaching voice on the staff, and, in that respect, it kinds makes sense that the Cubs would open the spot up for David Ross.
The Cubs also have openings at bench coach and third base coach.