I don’t know if I’m on an island in caring about this as much as I do, but when I saw this tweet from Sahadev Sharma just now, it stopped me cold in my tracks.
Because yes, extremely yes, I want to read about the specific names under consideration for the Cubs General Manager. Gig. Finally! Names! Go read this:
Jed Hoyer is in the final stages of finding a general manager to help him rebuild the Cubs. A look at four of the final candidates who all have extensive player development backgrounds and come from organizations known for a progressive mindset. https://t.co/NOM09bL8vB
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) October 9, 2021
Because I know that Sharma and Patrick Mooney have been hard at work trying to scoop this info for a long time, and because The Athletic is premium to support good work like theirs, I don’t want to share too much from the piece. Instead, I encourage you to read it to get a sense of the four named candidates. Each sounds great to me on paper.
What I will comment upon is that I *LOVE* the types of targets. Player development and scouting types from the Rays, Indians, and Twins? Yes please. Those are three organizations who have been nailing that side of the game for a while now, and it’s exactly where the Cubs should be trying to find the next great GM. Clearly, Hoyer and the Cubs developed a “type” for this position – external, heavy in player development, in an organization known for being great at that part of the game – and have targeted “next up” candidates.
We could find out who is getting the job as soon as next week, according to Sharma and Mooney.